Etymograph

English

Vladimir

Vladimir comes from Russian Владимир, from Proto-Slavic *volděti ‘to rule’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁-.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂welh₁-‘to rule’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂welh₁dʰh₁-reconstructed
  3. Proto-Balto-Slavicc. 2000–500 BCE*walˀdā́ˀteireconstructed
  4. Proto-Slavicc. 400–900 CE*volděti‘to rule’reconstructed
  5. Proto-Slavic, derivedc. 400–900 CE*Voldiměrъreconstructed
  6. Old Church SlavonicmodernВладимѣръ
  7. RussianmodernВладимирVladimir
  8. EnglishtodayVladimir

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂welh₁-‘to rule’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂welh₁dʰh₁-reconstructed
  3. Proto-Balto-Slavicc. 2000–500 BCE*walˀdā́ˀteireconstructed
  4. Proto-Slavicc. 400–900 CE*volděti‘to rule’reconstructed
  5. Proto-Slavic, derivedc. 400–900 CE*Voldiměrъreconstructed
  6. Old Church SlavonicmodernВладимѣръ
  7. RussianmodernВладимирVladimir
  8. EnglishtodayVladimir

The story

From Russian Владимир (Vladimir), as well as from other Slavic cognates, and reinforced by Medieval Latin Vladimirus, name of several saints in the Eastern Orthodox Church, from Old East Slavic Володимѣръ (Volodiměrŭ), Old Church Slavonic Владимѣръ (Vladiměrŭ), from Proto-Slavic *Voldiměrъ (which see for more), equivalent to владь (vladĭ, “power”) (which is from Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁- (‘be strong’)) and мѣръ (měrŭ, “great”), changed by folk etymology into миръ (mirŭ, “peace”).folk etymology The source marks this as unproven or a folk etymology. Quoted, not asserted.

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁- ‘to rule’

value, wild, equivalent, valid, wool, velvet, valuation, vale, avail, valiant, wield, fluff, vail, flannel, valour, cuckold, velour, valorous, woll, lanolin, 44 more

Today it means

name A transliteration of the Bulgarian, Macedonian, Pannonian Rusyn, Russian, or Serbo-Croatian male given name Владимир (Vladimir), equivalent to Volodymyr, popular throughout the history of Slavic countries and societies.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁- / Vladimir

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