Serbo-Croatian, Bosnian : uzdrhtalom

[harakiri]

I onda okrećući se uzdrhtalom Ciganinu dodade blaže:
— Šest ti je groša za posao, a još šest ako ostane do mraka živ. Pa sad gledaj.

And then turning to the gypsy, who was shaken, added mildly:
"6 groschens you will earn for this work. 6 more, if he is alive until the sunset. So now do it."

I'm not sure how to understand the word "uzdrhtalom" grammatically.
The verb "uzdrhtati" explains what "uzdrhtalom" means.

 

[Panceltic]

It is the adjective "uzdrhtao" (which is in origin a participle, as you can see in a normal past construction "ja sam uzdrhtao" - I shook (from fear etc.)).

Namely, it is its masculine definite form (uzdrhtali) in the dative case singular (uzdrhtalom), to agree with "Ciganinu".

There is a general tendency in Slavic languages where some participles become adjectives with time. Their semantics are usually very similar, which leads to this development.

 

[harakiri]

Yes, ”Ciganinu" is masculine, dative. So as well uzdrhtalom... in the positive definite form. This is not so obvious for the non-native. Hvala!

 

[Panceltic]

That's right. I can imagine it's very non-obvious for you, you are dealing with quite complicated texts here! Good luck and keep up the good work