cato-^(d)

This lexeme is found in a metrical inscription from Sardis.

[D.S.]

3pl. pres. ind. act.	factot	LW 14.1 (Sardis)
unknown	facato[.]	LW 14.11 (Sardis)

For the interpretation of the ending -ot as 3pl. pres. distinguished from -od, 3sg. pres., see Sasseville 2021a:183f. The syncope in factot (< *facatot) is due to metrical requirements (Sasseville ibid.). In his different analysis of the form, Oreshko 2018b:240 does not understand that verbs in -o-^(d) are a verbal stem class, claiming that the stem-final -ot marks the future or the optative without providing any arguments in favor.

[D.S.]

The last letter of facato[.] should give us the verbal ending. Buckler 1924a:32 points out that a vertical stroke can still be seen, which means that the final letter could be either <d> (3sg. pres.), <l> (3sg. pret.) or <t> (3pl. pres.).

Brandenstein 1929a:287 tentatively reads ḷ, and Oreshko 2018b:240 restores ṭ in analogy to the attestation in line 1, but neither is decisive and, thus, the reading should be left open until further contextual evidence emerges.

[D.S.]

Following Brandenstein 1929a:287 and Meriggi 1935a:109 n. 99, Gusmani 1964a:114 (as well as Zgusta 1955a:521f.) accepts the idea of an etymological relationship between cato- and ca-^(t) ‘to give a share, to make a dedication’. Sasseville 2021a:184f. argues further that cato-^(d) is a denominative verb derived from an agent noun in -to-, i.e. *cato- c. ‘the one giving out a share’. Since the action denoted by cato- is performed for the one keeping the stele safe (see under pa-^(d)), a positive meaning such as ‘to act as the one giving out share or payment’ is called for. For the semantics of “payment”, one can compare the related Lycian action noun in -ta-, i.e. zata- c. ‘delivery, payment’ (← za-^(ti) ‘to give a share’). Therefore, the Lydian denominative is translated as ‘to perform a payment (vel sim.)’.

[D.S.]

The verb cato- is a denominative verb in -o-^(d).

[D.S.]

For the derivational base, see Lyd. ca-^(t).