qzze(/i)-
‘(unknown)’
- Language
- Lycian B
- Grammar
- u
- ID
- 2114
1. Individual Anatolian Languages
1.1 Lycian B
qzze(/i)-
‘(unknown)’1.1.1Transmission
This lexeme is attested 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.]
1.1.2Forms
|
acc. sg. (?) |
qzz[.] |
||
|
dat./loc. pl. |
qzze |
The form qzz[.] is most likely accusative singular because of the preceding xerigazñ ‘of Gergis’ (gen. adj. acc. sg. c./n.?), with which it possibly agrees. Since the nominal stem class of the noun is unknown, the options for a restoration are too many, which is why it is better left as it is.
[D.S.]
1.1.3Graphic Features
The word epeqzz[.] (TL 44d.45) could be read as a compound (thus Shevoroshkin 1977a:131, DLL:115) or as two separate words, i.e. epe qzze (for a similar problem in Lycian B, see Lyc. B palara-). No decision can be made here.
[D.S.]
1.1.4Meaning
Based on an etymological comparison with Hitt. ḫāš-/ḫašš-(ḫi) ‘to give birth to’, Shevoroshkin 1977a:131 suggested the meaning descendant for (epe)qzze(/i)- (followed by Melchert 1994a:307, DLL:115, Kimball 2015a:68, Gehrisch 2018a:91). However, due to recent progress regarding Lycian phonology, the etymology is no longer tenable, since Lyc. q- is a labio-velar, which goes back to either *Hw- (see Kloekhorst 2008a) or *ku̯ (before back vowels; see Sideltsev & Yakubovich 2016a). More recently, Shevoroshkin 2014a:243 translates qzze(/i)- with ‘slaughtering’, adducing instead Hitt. kuwaške/a-(mi) ‘to strike, kill (imperf.)’, which is hardly persuasive, especially since the -ske/a-(mi) suffix is continued in Lycian A and B as -s-, not -z-.
Since both contexts in which qzze(/i)- occurs are obscure, we will refrain from assigning any meaning.
[D.S.]
1.1.5Stem
The stem formation and the nominal stem class of qzze(/i)- remain obscure. Even an a-stem cannot be excluded at this point.
[D.S.]