Guess the Word in Germanic Conlangs

[Herra Ratatoskr]

It's cognate with slay, but it has undergone some semantic drift in this case.

[shimobaatar]

It's cognate with slay, but it has undergone some semantic drift in this case.

Does it still mean something violent/negative?

[Herra Ratatoskr]

Yes

[shimobaatar]

To clarify, is this a meaning that "slēan" did not have in Old English?

[Herra Ratatoskr]

No, it didn't have the same meaning in Old English. It's less physically violent.

Also, I kind of messed up answering the question you asked about being related to slay. It's a descendent of sleġe, which meant "hit, blow", and is ultimately a derivative of the same root as "slay", but not directly a descendant of Old English slean. Sorry for any confusion that caused.

[shimobaatar]

Oh, no worries! Thanks for the clarification. I figured it was probably a noun since it's the second half of the compound and the whole word is a noun.

Anyway, does it refer to some kind of non-physical aggression?

[Herra Ratatoskr]

If you're being VERY generous with the term "aggression", it probably could, but it probably wouldn't be how most people would think of it.

[shimobaatar]

Hmm…

Is bifje a verb?

[Herra Ratatoskr]

Yes

[shimobaatar]

Is it a weak verb?

[Herra Ratatoskr]

Yes

[spanick]

From bifian “to shake, tremble”?

[Herra Ratatoskr]

Yep, now you have to put the two together and figure out the semantic drift.

[spanick]

I’m guessing it’s “seizure”

[Herra Ratatoskr]

No, but you're definitely headed in the right direction. I imagine that you've got the "sleje" part right, but the the "bifje" part narrowed its meaning some (in a general way compare how specific English "starve" is versus German "sterben").

[Herra Ratatoskr]

This one's seems to have sputtered out; are people still interested in trying to solve it? Or should we throw in the towel and let another person have a word?

[shimobaatar]

I'm definitely still interested, but also thoroughly stumped, I'd say. I'll have to look back over what's been confirmed already to see if anything jumps out at me.

[Herra Ratatoskr]

Hm, didn't really think this would be that hard to figure out. Maybe post what you think each part of the compound signify and I can give a hint based on that?

[spanick]

This one's seems to have sputtered out; are people still interested in trying to solve it? Or should we throw in the towel and let another person have a word?

For the record I’m also still interested but I’m kinda at a loss as well. On top of that, I have 4 new classes I’m teaching and I’ve been working on my thesis for my MA and I haven’t had much time for conlanging.

[shimobaatar]

Hm, didn't really think this would be that hard to figure out. Maybe post what you think each part of the compound signify and I can give a hint based on that?

I think this sort of thing does tend to seem easier to whoever knows the answer. Also, I think I'm just not very good at guessing things like semantic drift.

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I've tried to compile everything that's been confirmed so far.

bifjesleje
/ˈbɪv.i.ˌzɫɛj/

• A noun.
• No affixes are present.
• A compound of two roots ("bifje-sleje").

bifje-

• A weak verb.
• Descended from Old English "bifian", but its meaning has narrowed (generally comparable to "starve" vs. German "sterben").

-sleje

• A noun.
• Descended from Old English "sleġe" and cognate with "slay", but has undergone semantic drift.
• Has a violent/negative meaning, but less physically violent than "slay".
• Most people would not think of its meaning as a type of aggression.

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While putting this together, I thought I'd finally figured it out, only to see that spanick had already guessed "seizure" in June. I know it's not that, but is it a medical term at all?