(s)nāu-

To swim, flow, let flow, whence suckle. Oldest form *sneə₂u-; colored to *snaə₂u-, contracted to *(s)nāu-. Extension of snā-.

1. Suffixed basic form *nāw-yo-. naiad, from Greek Naias, fountain nymph, probably from nān, to flow.

2. Variant root form *(s)neu(ə)-. neuston, from Greek nein, to swim.

3. Zero-grade form *(s)nū- (< *snuə-) in suffixed form *nū-trī (with feminine agent suffix). nourish, nurse, nurture, nutrient, nutriment, nutrition, nutritious, nutritive, from Latin nūtrīx, nurse, and nūtrīre, to suckle, nourish.

 

[In Pokorny snā- 971.]

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