The root structure of the rìša type verbs

Abstract

The verbs of Lith. rìša, Latv. risu „to tie” type are East Baltic innovation. They are formed by unifying the vowel i in apophonical roots (C)eiC/(C)CiC or (C)CeC/CC (Bal­tic CiC), e.g. Pr. perrēist: senrists. The roots of historical type (C)CeiC must have been formed from primary basic roots by adding one or two enlargements: Cei/Ci + С or CeC/CC + ei/i + C. The roots of these two historical types (with the root vowel e or ei) are mixed and can be distinguished only etymologically.