けり

⟨ki₁ ari⟩ → ⟨ke₁ri⟩ → */kʲeri/ → /keri/

From Old Japanese けり (ke₁ri).

Contraction of 来 (ki, the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of classical verb 来 (ku), modern 来る (kuru), “to come”) +‎ あり (ari, “to be”), or of き (-ki, the Old Japanese and classical Japanese verb auxiliary suffix indicating past recollection) +‎ あり (ari, “to be”).[1][2][3]

Although Japanese sources are consistent in listing past-recollective auxiliary suffix き (-ki) as a possible root,[1][2][3] this auxiliary notably had no known 連用形 (ren'yōkei), the conjugation form required for an inflecting word (such as a verb or adjective) to compound with another inflecting word. Thus, the 来 (ki) derivation seems more likely.

The “ending” sense is an extension of the first suffix sense because it is often used at the end of a poem.[2][3]

• (Tokyo) けり​ [kèríꜜ] (Odaka – [2])[3] as a noun
• IPA^(key): [ke̞ɾʲi]

けり • (-keri) ^†-ri

1. (Classical Japanese) indicating past tense: -ed
   • c. late 9th–mid-10th century, Taketori Monogatari

     今(いま)は昔(むかし)竹(たけ)取(とり)の翁(おきな)といふものありけり

     ima wa mukashi taketori no okina to iu mono arikeri

     Long ago there was an old man who cut bamboo.

2. (Classical Japanese) indicating the speaker has just realized something
   • 905–914, Kokin Wakashū (book 2, poem 90)

     ふるさととなりにし奈(な)良(ら)の都(みやこ)にも色(いろ)はかはらず花(はな)は咲(さ)きけり

     furusato to narinishi Nara no miyako ni mo iro wa kawarazu hana wa sakikeri

     Even in the capital of Nara, now an older town, the flowers bloomed just as colorfully, didn't they.

• Follows the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of inflectable words.
• The first sense is mostly used when the speaker was not a witness, but was rather told about the event described, as opposed to き (-ki). But, it can also be used to describe direct experiences.
• The second sense is most notably used at the end of a poem to denote an exclamatory tone.
• This word is morphologically an inflectional suffix. It is classified as 助動詞 (jodōshi, “auxiliary verb”) in traditional Japanese grammar.

• 色(いろ)男(をとこ)金(かね)と力(ちから)は無(な)かりけり (iro otoko kane to chikara wa nakarikeri)

けり • (keri) 

1. an ending, conclusion

• けりを付(つ)ける (keri o tsukeru)

Unknown. Possibly metonymy from 蹴り (keri, “kicking; kicker”) from the verb 蹴る (keru, “to kick”). Compare English kicks.

Appears to be specific to northern Honshū.

• IPA^(key): [ke̞ɾʲi]

けり • (keri) 

1. (dialect, Akita, Tsugaru) footwear, footgear: a shoe, (a pair of) shoes

• Sample of Tsugaru dialect - kuroishi kankou kyoukai (in Japanese)

Readings of various kanji.

けり or ケリ • (keri) 

1. 鳧, 計里, 水札: grey-headed lapwing
2. 蹴り: kick

Contraction of 來 (ki₁, the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of verb 來 (ku), “to come”) +‎ あり (ari, “to be”), or of き (-ki₁, verb auxiliary suffix indicating past recollection) +‎ あり (ari, “to be”).[1][2][3]

Although Japanese sources are consistent in listing past-recollective auxiliary suffix き (-ki₁) as a possible root,[1][2][3] this auxiliary notably had no known 連用形 (ren'yōkei), the conjugation form required for an inflecting word (such as a verb or adjective) to compound with another inflecting word. Thus, the 來 (ki₁) derivation seems more likely.

けり (-ke₁ri)

1. auxiliary verb indicating past tense: -ed
   • 711–712, Kojiki, middle volume (Empress Jingū; poem 40):

     許能美岐袁迦美祁牟比登波曾能都豆美宇須邇多弖弖宇多比都都迦美祁禮迦母麻比都都迦美祁禮加母許能美岐能美岐能阿夜邇宇多陀怒斯佐佐

     ko₂no₂ mi₁-ki₁ wo kami₁ke₁mu pi₁to₂ pa so₂no₂ tudumi₁ usu ni tatete utapi₁tutu kami₁ke₁re ka mo₂ mapi₁tutu kami₁ke₁re ka mo₂ ko₂no₂ mi₁-ki₁ no₂ mi₁-ki₁ no₂ aya ni uta-dano₁si sasa

     The man who brewed this fine sake surely used his great drum for a brewing vessel. Did he sing and sing while it brewed? Did he dance and dance while it brewed? For this fine sake, fine sake, makes us all quite merry! Good fortune![4]

2. auxiliary verb indicating that the speaker has just realized something
   • 711–712, Kojiki, upper volume (Yamasachihiko and Umisachihiko; poem 7):

     阿加陀麻波袁佐閇比迦禮杼斯良多麻能岐美何余曾比斯多布斗久阿理祁理

     akadama pa wo sape₂ pi₁karedo₂ siratama no₂ ki₁mi₁ ga yo₂so₂pi₁si taputo₁ku arike₁ri

     Red jewels impart their gleam even to the cord that binds them; but your adornment, radiant as white jewels, is truly awesome.[5]

3. auxiliary verb indicating that the speaker already realized something and points out a rationale: that's why it was...
   • c. 759, Man’yōshū, book 2, poem 118:

     嘆管大夫之戀禮許曾吾髮結乃漬而奴禮計禮

     nage₂ki₁tutu masurawo no₂ ko₁ no₂ ko₁pure ko₂so₂ waga yupi₁kami₁ no₂ pi₁tite nureke₁re

     It is precisely because a distinguished man like you longs for me that my hair is drenched and come undone.[6]

4. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

• Follows the 連用形 (ren’yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of inflectable words.

• なりけり (narike₁ri)

• Japanese: けり (-keri)

⟨ki₁ ari⟩ → ⟨ke₁ri⟩

けり (ke₁ri)

1. 著り, 服り: wearing
2. 來り: coming