*u̯ek̑(-i̯e/o)-

The Hittite verb wēkk-/wek-^(mi) ‘to request, ask for’ has been reconstructed as an acrostatic root verb, i.e. *u̯ḗk̑-/u̯ék̑-^(mi) (Eichner 1973a:81, Oettinger 1979a:100, Melchert 2014f:255, Sasseville 2021a:294, contra EDHIL:996f.). Melchert 1987a:198 etymologically connects the HLuw. cognates /wazza-/ ‘request’ and /wazzi-/ ‘to request’ to Hitt. wēkk-/wek-^(mi) (followed by HEG W-Z:470f., but omitted by EDHIL:996), arguing for the Luwian sound law *k̑ > z. However, Lycian wezzeime/i- ‘beloved (?)’, which we adduce here (contra Melchert 2014d:206) does not share the same outcome of *k̑ to z with Luwian. Therefore, the Lycian root-final -zz- must be attributed to the sequence *-k̑i̯- from a verb in *-i̯e/o-, i.e. PAnat. *u̯ek̑-i̯e/o- > PLuw. *u̯ezzi-. Even though the stem class of the Hieroglyphic Luwian verb is not assured (here assumed to be a causative-iterative in *u̯ok̑-éi̯e/o- > /wazz(a)i-^(di)/(?) on comparative grounds with Lycian), one can additionally reconstruct a stem *u̯ek̑-i̯e/o- (now probably attested as wazzi-^(ti)) beside *u̯ḗk̑-/u̯ék̑-^(mi). The root final -zz- would have spread analogically to the Proto-Luwic causative iterative formation, i.e. *u̯ok̑-éi̯e/o- → *u̯ozz-éi̯e/o- > Lyc. wezz(e)i-^(di). The action noun in *-eh₂- found in Cuneiform Luwian wazza- and HLuw. /wazza-/ can be reconstructed as *u̯ek̑-i̯-eh₂- ← *u̯ek̑-i̯e/o-. For this type of derivational chain, see Sasseville 2020c.

[D.S.]

The basic meaning of the PIE root *u̯ek̑- is ‘to wish’, cf. LIV²:672f., EIEC:629. However, as pointed out by Melchert 2014f:255f., a semantic distinction has to be made between the two present stems formed to this root: while the ordinary root present *u̯ék̑-/*uk̑-´ (Ved. váś-/uś-´) has a stative meaning ‘to wish’, the Narten present *u̯ḗk̑-/*u̯ék̑- (Hitt. u̯ēkk-/u̯ek-^(mi)) has an eventive meaning ‘to demand, ask for’. 

In LIV²:672f., two present stems are reconstructed for PIE: while the PIIr. present *u̯áć-/*uć-´ (Ved. váś-/uś-´, Av. vas-/us-) clearly reflects a pre-PIIr./PIE present stem *u̯ék̑-/*uk̑-´, Hitt. u̯ēkk-/u̯ek-^(mi) and Gk. ptc. ἑκών < ϝεκóντ- are often said to point to an acrostatic (i.e. Narten) present PIE *u̯ḗk̑-/*u̯ék̑-; cf., e.g., LIV²:672f. with notes 3 and 5 (with further lit.) and above sub PAnat. Reconstruction. Differently Melchert 2014f:256 n. 9, who along with GEW I:479 and DELG:331 assigns Gk. ἑκών to the é/∅-present *u̯ék̑-/*uk̑-´ for semantic reasons. In Anatolian, however, there are also traces of other verbal and nominal stems – cf., e.g., HLuw. pres. /wazz(a)i-^(di)/ ‘to request’ < *u̯ek̑-i̯e/o- (LIV²:672f. with n. 4) or rather causat.-iterat. *u̯ok̑-éi̯e/o- and HLuw. /wazza-/ sbst. ‘request’, CLuw. wazza- sbst. ‘id.’ < *u̯ek̑-i̯-eh₂- ← pres. *u̯ek̑-i̯e/o- (for details, cf. PAnat. Reconstruction above).

[T.S.]

Ved. vaś- ‘to wish, want’ (RV [pres. 3sg. váṣṭi, 1pl. uśmási, ptc. uśánt-, fem. uśatī́-, etc.]+); Av. vas- ‘to wish’ (pres. 3sg. OAv. vaštī, 1pl. OAv. usǝ̄mahī, ptc. YAv. usaṇt-, fem. usaitī-, etc.)Cf., e.g., EWAia II:527f., LIV²:672f., ALF:199–203. 

Gk. ptc. ἑκών (Cret, Locr. ϝεκών), fem. ἑκοῦσα, ntr. ἑκόν ‘readily, wittingly, purposely, as far as depends on one’s will, as far as concerns one’Cf., e.g., GEW I:479, LSJ s.v., LIV²:672f. with n. 5, EDG:400.