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BtN, gives the history of GUY as < WIDO "wood" or "wide."
Why was this preferred over the etymology for "guide," ultimately
Excerpted from http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=guide
"Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth." Ps. 127:4
JoHannah Jubilee, BenJudah Gabriel, Aaron Josiah, Jordan Uriah,
Maranatha Nissiah, (Anastasia Nike, 1992-1992), Jeshua David,
Shiloh Joshana, Elijah Daniel, Hezekiah Nathaniel, Zephaniah Joseph
Why was this preferred over the etymology for "guide," ultimately
Excerpted from http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=guide
JoHannah Jubilee, BenJudah Gabriel, Aaron Josiah, Jordan Uriah,
Maranatha Nissiah, (Anastasia Nike, 1992-1992), Jeshua David,
Shiloh Joshana, Elijah Daniel, Hezekiah Nathaniel, Zephaniah Joseph
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Replies
There are several reasons:
* Germanic WIDO is a frequent name element (both in productivity and in usage) including Witegis, King of the Ostrogoths. In contrast, WIT is a rare name element occurring mainly in the name Alois.
* As you see, the word guide has preserved a final "d" sound but Guy hasn't; suggesting the alternate etymology
* Finally, you see people occuring as Guy in Old French sources and Wito in old German sources and Vitus in latinized spelling. This argument is the most compelling.
* Germanic WIDO is a frequent name element (both in productivity and in usage) including Witegis, King of the Ostrogoths. In contrast, WIT is a rare name element occurring mainly in the name Alois.
* As you see, the word guide has preserved a final "d" sound but Guy hasn't; suggesting the alternate etymology
* Finally, you see people occuring as Guy in Old French sources and Wito in old German sources and Vitus in latinized spelling. This argument is the most compelling.
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Hm... need to check sources on this, but as far as I remember, the analysis of Alois was AL-WIS "all witting".
I tend to favour this, because there is a dwarf called Alwis in the poetic Edda who has a riddle contest with Thor and loses because he was surprised by sunrise and dies.
But I need to check sources again ...
I the light of the previous argument: An alternative explanation of the name Alois makes a name element #WIT# (or #WIS#) even more rare and unlikely.
EDIT: I checked Foerstemann (1900) and he gives the first mentioning of Alois with Cassidor, 5th century). He also quotes one Alafredus with sons Allo, Alaricus, and Alois in the 9th century. I think, this rules out the provencalic form of Louis as the first source of Alois (it can be a source for a later revival of the name).
I tend to favour this, because there is a dwarf called Alwis in the poetic Edda who has a riddle contest with Thor and loses because he was surprised by sunrise and dies.
But I need to check sources again ...
I the light of the previous argument: An alternative explanation of the name Alois makes a name element #WIT# (or #WIS#) even more rare and unlikely.
EDIT: I checked Foerstemann (1900) and he gives the first mentioning of Alois with Cassidor, 5th century). He also quotes one Alafredus with sons Allo, Alaricus, and Alois in the 9th century. I think, this rules out the provencalic form of Louis as the first source of Alois (it can be a source for a later revival of the name).
This message was edited 4/20/2015, 6:45 AM
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