Proto-North Caucasian: *Ł_wĕrV
Meaning: hard; severe, stern
Notes: The EC-WC comparison seems rather probable (note also the recurrence of meanings 'hard' and 'severe, proud' in both subgroups of NC). The protoform can be reconstructed as *Ł_wĕrV (without class prefixation) or as *=iŁ_wĕrV (in the latter case the PTs and PD forms must be considered as most archaic). The initial labial in PWC (which has caused the usual dissimilative delabialisation of the following consonant) also can be regarded as a former prefixed class marker.
