Féminin

fax

Signification

Concepts

Synonymes

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(Anglais)

(declension-3, feminine) torch, firebrand
(declension-3, feminine) fireball, comet
(declension-3, feminine) cause of ruin, incitement

Prononcé comme (IPA)

[ˈfaks]

Uncertain. Possibly from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰwok(ʷ)- > Proto-Italic *fwak(ʷ)-. Potential cognates include facētus and Lithuanian žvakė (“candle”). Compare also Etruscan 𐌚𐌀𐌂𐌄 (face, “torch (?)”). Schrijver argues the -a- can be explained as going back to Proto-Indo-European *o, with unrounding after *w in an originally open syllable (as in the oblique case-forms). According to De Vaan, even if the Latin and Lithuanian words are cognate, the root structure is more consistent with a later loanword rather than a Proto-Indo-European formation.