qñtbe-

This lexeme is found in the inscription of the inscribed pillar of Xanthos, dated contextually to shortly after the ascension of Artaxerxes II in 405-404 BCE and stylistically to around 400 BCE (Borchhardt & Eichner 1997-1999a:19f.). It is also found attested as a personal name in a Lycian A inscription, i.e. gen. sg. qñtbeh (TL 51.2; Gusmani 1993a:29).

[D.S.]

For outdated attempts to unite the roots xñt- and qñt- together, see Gusmani 1968c:11, Neumann 2007a:306 with further references.

[D.S.]

Concerning the semantics of Lyc. B qñtbẽ, Shevoroshkin 2012a:469 suggests translating it as ‘lord’. This is based on the assumption that the root qñt- means ‘being in charge’, which he relates etymologically to Hitt./Luw. ^LÚḫuwantāla- c., a title, and ḫuwantalā(i)-^(mi) (?) of uncertain semantics, nevertheless translating it as ‘to spare’ (cf. HW 2nd ed. Ḫ:815f.). Although the etymological comparison might be correct, his semantic assessment of Lyc. B qñt- is unreliable. Schürr 2018b:78 takes Lyc. B qñtbẽ as a personal name because of its attestation as a personal name in the Lycian A corpus, i.e. TL 51.2. However, this is not a cogent argument, because it may simply represent the appellative upon which the personal name is based.

Contextually, qñtbẽ seems to represent something that is favored: qñtbẽ uwaxa ‘I favored the qñtbẽ…’ (TL 44d.47-48). On the meaning of uwe-^(ti) ‘to regard with favor’, see Sasseville 2018a:312 with further references. Without an etymology, the meaning of the word remains unknown.

[D.S.]

The noun qñtbẽ can be either a common gender or a neuter noun. Further evidence is needed.

[D.S.]

1. qñtbẽdde/i- (PN) (DLL:127, Schürr 2018b:78)

See under meaning for a possible etymological connection with a Hittite/Luwian word, which however cannot be sustained with the current data. No reconstruction possible.

[D.S.]