nectō
Uncertain. Possibly related to nōdus (“knot”) and/or nassa (“a narrow-necked basket for catching fish”). The ending may be analogous to that found in plectō (“plait, weave, braid”)[1] or pectō (“comb wool”).[2]
The following roots and cognates have been proposed:
- Proto-Indo-European *gned-, *gnod- (“to bind”), making it cognate to Proto-Germanic *knuttô (“knot”) (whence Modern English knot), and possibly Ancient Greek γνάθος (gnáthos, “a jaw”).
- Proto-Indo-European *ned- (“to turn, twist, knot”), whence English net, Avestan 𐬥𐬀𐬯𐬐𐬀- (naska-, “bundle”), Old Irish nascaid (“to bind”).[2] This in turn is sometimes interpreted as being connected to Proto-Indo-European *(s)neh₁- (“spin, sew”), the root of Latin neō (“spin, weave”).[1] The root of these forms has alternatively been reconstructed as Proto-Indo-European *neh₃d-.[3]
- Proto-Indo-European *h₁nedʰ- (“to tie together”) (alternatively reconstructed as *Hnadʰ-[4] or *nedʰ-[5]), whence (possibly) Sanskrit नह्यति (nahyati) and Proto-Germanic *nastijaną.
- Proto-Indo-European *h₂neḱ- (“to reach”)[4]
- Proto-Indo-European *h₁neǵʰ- (“to pierce”), the root of Old Church Slavonic ножь (nožĭ, “knife, dagger”), Proto-Slavic *nizati (“to string (to put (items) on a string)”).[3]
Pronunciation (Classical Latin) IPA(key): /ˈnek.toː/, [ˈnɛkt̪oː], (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): /ˈnek.to/, [ˈnɛkt̪o]
Verb
nectō (present infinitive nectere, perfect active nexī, supine nexum); third conjugation
- to connect, interweave, attach, unite; relate [ synonyms ▲]
- to bind, tie, fasten [ synonyms, antonyms ▲]
- to bind by obligation, oblige, make liable
- to contrive, devise, compose, produce [ synonym ▲]
- Synonym: dēdūcō