*h3ér-u-/h3r-éu̯-
‘high’
- Language
- Proto-Anatolian
- Grammar
- adj
- ID
- 2229
1. Individual Anatolian Languages
1.1 Hieroglyphic Luwian
/aru-/, á-ru
‘highly, in high measure’1.1.1Transmission
The six attestations of this lemma originate mainly from two inscriptions from Tabal, and another one from Amuq. All date to the mid- or late 8th century BCE.
[AH.B.]
1.1.2Forms
| nom./acc. sg. n. | /aru/ | á-ru | TOPADA, §31 (Tabal) |
| á-ru[...] | İSTANBUL 1, §3 | ||
| ara/i | KULULU 4, §3 (Tabal) | ||
| á-la/i | TOPADA, §32 (Tabal) | ||
| TOPADA, §33 (Tabal) | |||
| á-lá/í | TELL TAYINAT 2, l. 1 §iv (Amuq) |
The reading of TOPADA, §31 as 〈á-ru〉 is based on Hrozný 1935a:508 n. 9, followed by Rieken & Yakubovich 2010a:213. In contrast to that, Hawkins 2000a:454, 459 reads 〈á-x〉, addressing the issue in his discussion of the text again, where he considers the possible sign 〈ru〉 to be a spelling error; his view is followed by Simon 2013a:7 n. 12.
Note that both from a graphemic and a semantic viewpoint, the two adverbs /aru/ ‘high’ and HLuw. /ara/ ‘right’ are difficult to distinguish, cf. the discussion of the spelling below. In fact, further research may result in some of the attestations for both to undergo reassignment.
[AH.B.]
1.1.3Graphic Features
1.1.3.1Phonological Interpretation
The phonological interpretation of this word is reasonably secure in spite of the spelling discrepancies evident in the attestations, because it is cognate with the CLuw. and Hittite adjectives aru- ‘high’ (Rieken & Yakubovich 2010a:213). Moreover, the spelling variation can occur even in one and the same text: TOPADA uses 〈á-ru〉 and 〈á-la/i〉 in three consecutive clauses within the same line of the inscription; the signs are clearly legible on the photographs, see Rieken & Yakubovich 2010a:213 for a full discussion. Simon 2013a:7 n. 12 advocates for dissociating 〈á-ru〉 from 〈á-la/i〉, but see discussion of meaning below.
As mentioned above, the present adverb is graphemically and semantically easily confused with /ara/ ‘right’. Both usually begin with 〈á〉 (sign *19) and can show rhotacism and hypercorrect spelling of the following resonant. Moreover, the spelling of /u/ is not altogether reliable in this position, as can also be observed in the unrelated, but similarly spelt lexeme /aliwanni-/ ‘enemy’. Blevins (apud Yakubovich 2008b:14) suggests that these vowels had merged after the flap /ɾ/, which represents earlier intervocalic /r, l, d/ in HLuw.; cf. also Rieken & Yakubovich 2021a:273f.
[AH.B.]
1.1.4Meaning ‘(adv.) highly, in high measure’
Within its contexts, the word always appears in the nom./acc. sg. n., suggesting strongly that it is an adverb, which was already clear to Hrozný 1935a:508 n. 9.However, the meaning ‘thus, if’ that was very tentatively suggested in Hrozný 1935a:508 n. 9 is outdated. The current meaning was first suggested by Rieken & Yakubovich 2010a:213 on the basis of combining all above-listed forms into one lemma and linking it to the cognate adjectives CLuw. and Hittite aru- ‘high’. As it is used to describe good deeds by or for the gods, the present translation appears to be the most fitting, and this usage also vindicates the decision of combining the disparate forms listed above into one lemma.
The present lemma is to be kept separate, despite often similar spelling, from HLuw. /ala-/ ‘lady’, a commonly used epithet for the goddess Kubaba.
[AH.B.]
1.1.5Stem
The only form attested, i.e. nom./acc. sg. n. /aru-/ ‘high’, is always used adverbially. Other forms of the adjectival paradigm are not attested in the hieroglyphic script so far but can be found in CLuw. and Hittite.
[AH.B.]
1.2 Cuneiform Luwian
aru-
‘high’1.2.1Transmission
This lexeme is attested in a song of Istanuwa (CTH 773) and a festival text for the Palaic pantheon (CTH 751).
[O.B.]
1.2.2Forms
| nom. sg. c. | a-ru-uš | KBo 19.155, 5’ | (CTH 751, MS) |
| a-ru-u-wa | KUB 35.136 iv 19´ | (CTH 773, NS) | |
| KUB 35.136 iv 20´ | (CTH 773, NS) | ||
| KBo 30.180 iv 3 | (CTH 773, NS) | ||
| [a-r]u-u-wa | KUB 35.136 iv 16´ | (CTH 773, NS) | |
| a-ru-u-w[a] | KUB 35.136 iv 4´ | (CTH 773, NS) | |
| [a-ru-]˹ú˺-wa | KBo 30.180 iv 7 | (CTH 773, NS) | |
| ˹a˺[-ru-u-wa] | KUB 35.136 iv 11´ | (CTH 773, NS) | |
| a-ru-˹ú˺[-wa] | KUB 35.136 iv 8´ | (CTH 773, NS) |
Some nom./acc. pl. n. forms are used adverbially, see Meaning.
The restoration of a nom./acc. sg. n. form <[a]-ru> on KBo 27.77 ii 3 made by Melchert (CLL:31) is probably incorrect. Only the right half of the alleged sign <ru> is visible. Its lower horizontal is situated higher than in the <ru> of the following <šu-wa-a-ru>. The verticals are also dissimilar in the two signs. A restoration <˹ú˺> consequently seems more plausible.
[O.B.]
1.2.3Graphic Features
All forms have been checked against the photographs in the Konkordanz (Mainzer Photoarchiv). No emendation to a-ru-iš! (KBo 19.155, 5’) is necessary (thus CLL:31, contra Starke 1990a:75 n. 179).
[O.B.]
1.2.4Meaning
The adjective aru- is often used in conjunction to something wooden, possibly trees (KBo 30.180 iv 3, 7, KUB 35.136 iv 19). It may also be used adverbially in clauses with the verb awi-(di) ‘to come’ (KUB 35.136 iv 4, 8, 16, 20). These usages, coupled with an exact phonological match in Hitt.(?) aru-/-aw- ‘high’ (cf. HW 2nd ed. A:349), renders a meaning ‘high’ likely for the Luwian word as well (thus also Starke 1990a:503-504 n. 1855, CLL:31, EDHIL:212).
[O.B.]
1.2.5Stem
CLuw. aru- is a u-stem adjective. There is no i-mutation, contra Starke 1990a:75 n. 182.
[O.B.]
1.2.6Derivatives
1.3 Lycian A
*eru-
‘high’1.3.1Derivatives
1.4 Palaic
arū-/-aw-
‘high’1.4.1Transmission
This lexeme is found in a festival text for the Palaic pantheon (CTH 751) as well as in a mythical passage, perhaps pertaining to a festival for the Palaic pantheon.
[D.S.]
1.4.2Forms
| acc. sg. c. | a-ru-u-n(=) | KUB 32.17, 9’ | (CTH 751, MS?) |
| [a-ru-u-]n(=) | KUB 35.165 obv. 23 | (CTH 751, OS or MS) | |
| nom./acc. pl. n. | a-ra-u-wa | KUB 48.69, 1 | (CTH 754, NS) |
The word [a?-]a-ru-uš (KBo 19.155, 5’) is probably not Palaic (pace Carruba 1970a:52, Melchert 1984b:39f.)., because the language of the lines 4’-6’ as Palaic is not ascertained (pace Melchert 1984b ibid.); the sentence could be in Hittite (thus Carruba 1970a:52, EDHIL:212), or in Luwian just like lines 9’-13’ (thus CLL:31). The nom./acc. pl. n. a-ra-u-wa is used adverbially.
[D.S.]
1.4.3Graphic Features
Checked against the photographs in the Konkordanz (Mainzer Fotoarchiv).
[D.S.]
1.4.4Meaning
Melchert 1984b:39f. advances decisive arguments for separating the particle chain into arūn=am=pi, instead of arūnam=pi (cf. Carruba 1970a:52). As Melchert 1984b (ibid.) points out, a word arūna- meaning ‘sea’ (equating Hitt. aruna- c. ‘sea’) would make no sense contextually. The context describes the relationship between the king and the Sun-god. In this particular sentence, the Sun-god is asked to build the king arūn. Melchert’s assignment of the meaning ‘high’ to arū- therefore makes better sense (followed by Yakubovich 2005c:115).
[D.S.]
1.4.5Stem
The neuter plural form a-ra-u-wa shows the retention of ablaut in the stem.
[D.S.]
2. Reconstruction
2.1Reconstruction ‘high’
The comparison between Pal. arū-/-aw- ‘high’, CLuw. aru- ‘id.’ (and HLuw. /aru/ found only in adverbial use) and Lyc. *eru- ‘id.’ allows for a reconstruction of a Proto-Anatolian adjectival u-stem built to the root of *h3er- ‘to rise’, i.e. *h3ér-u-/h3r-éu̯- ‘risen, high’ (EDHIL:212; pace Weitenberg 1984a:90). For its near-absence in Hittite (acc. pl. a-ra-m[u-uš?] in KUB 33.5 ii 17’), cf. Weitenberg 1984a:90, HW 2nd ed. A:349, EDHIL:212, Frotscher 2012a:166 n. 54.
To account for the loss of the laryngeal in this formation, one could directly adduce Saussure’s Law to the proterokinetic weak stem after the replacement of the e- through the o-grade (see Rieken 2005b:54, Weitenberg 1984a:376f.), i.e. *h3ér-u-/h3r-éu̯- → *h3ór-u-/h3r-óu̯- > (Saussure’s Law + paradigmatic levelling) *ór-u/or-óu̯- > Pal. arū-/-aw- (in CLuw. aru-, the ablaut of the suffix was given up).
[D.S.]
For parallel formations built on the same root, see PAnat. *h3r-i̯é/ó- and PAnat. *h3ór-/h3r-´.