sm̃mẽt(i)-

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.).

[D.S.]

dat./loc. pl.

sm̃mẽte

TL 44d.60-61 (Xanthos)

The association of sm̃mẽte with Lyc. A sm̃ma-^(ti) ‘to bind, obligate’ is cogent (Carruba 1969b:99 n. 103, Schürr 1997c:135, contra Shevoroshkin 2002a:230). Further, the adjective modifies the noun klleime ‘payments, tributes’, which supports the meaning ‘binding, obligating’ obtained from the comparison with Lyc. A sm̃ma- c. and sm̃ma-^(ti), i.e. sm̃mẽte klleime ‘binding payments (vel sim.)’ (contra Schürr 2018b:76).

[D.S.]

If sm̃mẽt(i)- is derived from the noun sm̃ma-, a common gender a-stem, it is possible that the formation in -nt(i)- is to be interpreted as sm̃mãt(i)- instead. Thus, the ẽ in sm̃mẽte would be due to vowel harmony with the following dative/locative plural ending -e. Even if it represents a participial formation derived from the verb sm̃ma-^(ti)(Neumann 2007a:329), the same though applies, i.e. sm̃ma-^(ti) + -nt(i)- = sm̃mãt(i)-.

[D.S.]

Because the sound law sm̃m- to zm̃m- did not operate (see zm̃pde), the word sm̃mẽte must be considered a Lycian A borrowing into the Lycian B poem, which is not surprising considering that the poem contains several other Lycian A dialectal elements.

[D.S.]

For the derivational base see Lyc. A sm̃ma- c.