Reconstruction:Proto-Slavic/ęga

Etymology 1
From (per Trubačev (ESSJa), probably deverbial), from. Cognate with 🇨🇬, and akin to 🇨🇬, 🇨🇬.

Noun

 * 1) sore, anguish physical condition
 * 2) dread, terror psychological condition

Descendants

 * East Slavic:
 * South Slavic:
 * South Slavic:

Etymology 2
Likely identical to Etymology 1, with South Slavic descendants borrowing the pronunciation of East Slavic (as both lack the effects of third palatalization).

Fringe hypotheses propose as alternatives:
 * Iljinsky (ИОРЯС): Of expressive origin, akin to dial. 🇨🇬, . Doubted by Vasmer, Sobolevsky.
 * Berneker: Reflecting instead (possibly akin to 🇨🇬 or the same as 🇨🇬) and further related to 🇨🇬, . Formally incompatible with the West Slavic descendants. Doubted by Vasmer.

Noun

 * 1)  personification of calamity, death, diseases (typically depicted as a hex or an evil old woman)

Usage notes
More often referred to as ~. The term is nonetheless used on own in West Slavic and Ukrainian with the more general meaning “evil old woman” or “witch, hex”.

Descendants

 * East Slavic:
 * West Slavic:
 * West Slavic:
 * West Slavic: