lelebe(/i)-
‘(unknown)’
- Language
- Lycian B
- Grammar
- subst
- ID
- 2251
1. Individual Anatolian Languages
1.1 Lycian B
lelebe(/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
| abl./instr. | lelebedi | TL 44c.41 (Xanthos) | |
| TL 44d.15 (Xanthos) |
1.1.3Meaning
The word lelebedi refers to something with (or because of) which the Lycian king instructs (his) sbirte-priest (?) regarding the sacrifices to be performed (TL 44c.41). As pointed out by Schürr 2016d:164, the verb pzziti ‘he instructs’ is used in each of the two attestations. Meriggi 1937a:516 suggests on contextual grounds the meaning ‘praise’, which is not convincing. An etymological connection with Hitt. lāla- ‘tongue’ and CLuw. lāl(i)- and with a questionable denominative verb (inf.) lalawanzi ‘to speak (?)’ (cf. CHD L-N:25) is defended by Gehrisch 2018a:86 (with further literature), which is in principle possible, although the morphology is inadequate. At first sight, the word lelebe(/i)- looks like a reduplicated form of Lyc. B lebe/i- ‘?’ (thus DLL:119). However, this does not contribute to the understanding of the context. The meanings ‘attacks’ by Shevoroshkin 1971a:208 and ‘fighter’ by Shevoroshkin 2002c:418, 420 are unpersuasive (see also Shevoroshkin 2014a:232 n.1). No meaning is given here.
[D.S.]