xñtata-

This lexeme is found once within an inscription datable to the reign of Pttule, whose identity is debated.

[D.S.]

acc. pl.

xñtatas

TL 35.15 (Kadyanda)

The word xñtatas is used in apposition to tamas ‘houses, buildings’. Formally, it represents an action noun derived from the verb xñta-^(ti) of uncertain meaning. Since the context of TL 35 is still obscure, no semantic assignment for xñtata- will be suggested here (none is likewise given in DLL:84, Neumann 2007a:128). The suggestion of Gehrisch 2018a:53 that it means ‘first, best’ is speculative and finds neither contextual nor morphological support.

[D.S.]

Melchert (DLL:84, followed by Gehrisch 2018a:53) takes xñtatas as an adjective with a case of secondary agreement after tamas, which is a rare phenomenon in Lycian prose (though common in Lycian poetry). However, his suggestion is unconvincing, considering the existence of the productive suffix -ta- c., which builds action nouns, whereas adjectives in -te/i-, though formally possible, have not so far been found in Lycian.

[D.S.]

For the derivational base, see Lyc. A xñta-^(ti).