*u̯ér-/u̯r-´

Comparing Pal. wēr-^(ti) ‘to say’ with Hitt. weriye/a-^(mi) ‘to call out’, we can posit two different stem formations for Proto-Anatolian, i.e. root verb *u̯ér-/u̯r-´ and *u̯ér-i̯e/o- (Oettinger 1979a:344). Traces of the root verb can be found in the Hittite isolated form werant- (EDHIL:1002) as well as in the grammaticalized quotative particle =wa(r), Luw. /=wa/, Pal. =wa(r) (Oettinger 1979a:344, EDHIL:958, HEG W-Z:498) and probably Lyc. A =be. The existence of a Cuneiform Luwian verb of speaking wāri(ya)-^(di) was suggested by Oettinger 1976-1977a:133 and followed by Sasseville 2021a:327-329. However, the semantics of the words involved are debated; cf. under CLuw. warīta and CLuw. wāri(ya)-. Although this root has always been reconstructed with a *-h₁, the Anatolian root shows no root-final laryngeal, for which one would expect a gemination of the preceding resonant. The rule of *h₁ > Ø /C_i̯ posited in Melchert 1994a:65 for the derivative in *-i̯e/o-, which would require an analogical spread to the root verb, is fine but cannot yet be independently supported by additional examples.

[D.S.]

The PIE root *u̯erh₁- means ‘to say, speak’, cf. EIEC:535, Watkins 2000a:100, LIV²:689f.

The Anatolian languages point to a PIE root aorist *u̯érh₁-/*u̯r̥h₁-´ (→ PAnat. *u̯ér-/*u̯r-´, whence, e.g., Pal. wēr-^(ti), Hitt. ptc. u̯erant-) beside a i̯e/o-present *u̯ér[h₁]-i̯e/o- (> PAnat. *u̯ér-i̯e/o- > Hitt. u̯erii̯e/a-^(mi) ‘to call out’), the latter being also attested in Greek: εἴρω ‘to say, speak, tell’ < *u̯ér[h₁]-i̯e/o- (cf. LIV²:689f. and the PAnat. Reconstruction above). The combined evidence of Anatolian and Greek might therefore point to an already PIE i̯e/o-present *u̯ér[h₁]-i̯e/o-, which probably lost its laryngeal according to Pinault’s Law (PIE *CHi̯V > *Ci̯V).Laryngeal loss according to Pinault’s Law is also assumed in EDG:393. For Pinault’s Law itself, cf., e.g., Pinault 1982a, Mayrhofer 1986:140 and the thorough discussion in Byrd 2015a:208–240 (who wants to restrict Pinault’s Law to PIE *h₂ and *h₃, however; cf. Byrd 2015a:232). In the afore-mentioned root aorist PIE *u̯érh₁-/*u̯r̥h₁-´, however, the laryngeal did not disappear by sound law. To account for the obvious laryngeal loss in PAnat. *u̯ér-/*u̯r-´ (PIE *u̯erh₁- would have given PAnat. †u̯err- with geminate), we have to assume that the laryngeal in the root aorist was deleted analogically, presumably on the basis of the parallel i̯e/o-present. – As far as the nominal stem formation is concerned, a thematic stem *u̯(e/o)rd^ho- ‘word’ with different root ablaut (e, o, ∅) can be reconstructed on the basis of Lat. verbum n. ‘word’ (< *u̯erd^ho- or *u̯r̥d^ho-), Lith. var͂das m. ‘name’, Latv. vā̀rds m. ‘word, name’ (< *u̯ord^ho-), OPr. wīrds m. ‘word’ (< *u̯r̥d^ho-), and Goth. waúrd, ON orð, etc. n. ‘word’ (< PGerm. *u̯urđa- < *u̯r̥d^ho-); cf. NIL:729f. According to Heidermanns 1996a:§223 and Hackstein 2002:14, *u̯(e/o)rd^ho- ‘word’ developed from a root compound *u̯(o/e)rh₁-d^hh₁-o- ‘placing an utterance, making a statement’ vel sim., with regular loss of the first of the two laryngeals in a sequence CH.CC (cf. NIL:730 n. 1). The compound consists of a root noun *u̯(o/e)rh₁- ‘utterance’ vel sim., which explains the different ablaut grades attested, and the thematized root *d^heh₁- ‘to put, place’, as per NIL:730 n. 1. For the semantics, cf. the Latin syntagm verbum/verba facere. For further discussion and lit., cf. Casaretto 2004a:87f. and NIL:729f.

[T.S.]

Ved. vratá- n. ‘vow, religious observance, commandment’ vel sim., OAv. uruuata- n. ‘rule, order, indication’, etc.Cf., e.g., EWAia II:594f., Mayrhofer 2005a:72f., 93, each with further lit.

Gk. pres. εἴρω ‘to say, speak, tell’ (Hom.+), fut. ep. Ion. ἐρέω, Att. ἐρῶ, etc.Cf., e.g., GEW I:469–471, LIV²:689f. with n. 2–4, NIL:729f., EDG:393. Cf. also the verbal adj. ῥητός ‘stated, specified, covenanted, etc.’, sbst. ῥῆσις f. ‘saying, speech’ (Od.+), etc.Cf., e.g., LSJ s.vv.

Lat. verbum n. ‘word’Cf., e.g., EDLIL:664f., NIL:729f. with n. 4, each with further lit.

Goth. waúrd n. ‘word’, ON orð n. ‘id.’, OE word n. ‘id.’, OS word n. ‘id.’, OHG wort n. ‘id.’, etc.Cf., e.g., Casaretto 2004a:87f., NIL:729f. with n. 2, EDPG:600.

OPr. wīrds m. ‘word’; Lith. var͂das m. ‘name’, Latv. vā̀rds m. ‘word, name’Cf., e.g., NIL:729f. with n. 3, EDBIL:489, ALEW II:1188f.

Russ. vrat’, 1sg. vru ‘to lie’Cf., e.g., LIV²:690 with n. 6.