Undoubtedly from Proto-Indo-European * h₂ŕ̥tḱos ( “ bear ” ) , though it is not exactly clear how the term developed in Italic. Schrijver postulates an Italic sound-law wherein * # HLC- sequences became aLC- in Latin, as perhaps indicated by terms such as argentum (perhaps from * h₂ŕ̥ǵn̥tom ), in which case the initial u- is unexpected. However, the linguist Stefan Höfler argues that * # HLC- operated like other * # CLC- sequences, such as mors (< * mr̥t- ), in which case * h₂ŕ̥tḱos would develop into * orksos , whence ursus . Schrijver, however, suggests that—even if * # HLC- yielded Latin # oLC- —the outcome ursus would still be irregular, as the expected result would be * * orsus , and it can thus be disregarded as evidence for the ordinary development of * # HLC- in Latin. Another linguist, Frederick Kortlandt, has explained the unusual vocalism as the result of influence from urcō ( “ to roar ” ) . Ultimately, De Vaan suggests that the unexpected sound changes may have arisen as a taboo distortion. For the outcome -s- from original * -tḱ- , compare sinō . Doublet of Arctos .
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Lewis’s Elementary Latin Dictionary
1890 American Book Company edition; pinned Perseus XML digitizationursus
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