sukre-
‘(unknown)’
- Language
- Lycian B
- Grammar
- subst, c.
- ID
- 2277
1. Individual Anatolian Languages
1.1 Lycian B
sukre-
‘(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. or gen. pl. (?) | sukrẽ | TL 44d.7 (Xanthos) | |
| dat. sg. | sukri | TL 44d.71 (Xanthos) |
The interpretation as gen. pl. is preferred in Schürr 2018b:80, whereas Melchert (DLL:129) and Meriggi 1936b:281 see an acc. sg. c. (Shevoroshkin 2011b:150 leaves it open). An acc. sg. neuter is unlikely, unless one were to assume two nouns in asyndetic relation. However, the form sukredi (TL 44d.50) is not likely to be abl./instr., since it represents the only option for a predicate in the sentence, see under Derivative.
[D.S.]
1.1.3Meaning
In TL 44d.71, the word sukri seems to agree in case and number with trqqn͂ti ‘for the Storm-god’, although Shevoroshkin 2014a:243 opens the possibility of a double dative construction, i.e. “for a sukri, for the Storm-god”. In TL 44d.7, it looks like the word agrees with xn͂tabã ‘preparations, arrangement (?)’, unless it is a genitive plural dependent on the same noun. Meriggi 1936b:281 treats sukrẽ as an adjective modifying xn͂tabã, which he translated as ‘rule’, and thus posits the meaning ‘favorable’ for the former (followed by DLL:129 and Gehrisch 2018a:91, 96 “merciful”). However, if sukrẽ really is acc. sg. c., it cannot be an adjective because it would show i-mutation, but must rather be a substantive in apposition; see under Stem. Outdated Gusmani 1964c:45 n. 15 “big, great”. Untenable Shevoroshkin 2011b:150 and Shevoroshkin 2014a:253 “libation”. Pending a solid etymological approach, no semantic interpretation will be attempted here.
[D.S.]
1.1.4Stem
If sukrẽ really is acc. sg. c., a non-mutated common gender noun in -e- can be posited, which gains more evidence from the denominative verb (Sasseville 2021a:209f.). The interpretation of Schürr 2018b:80 to see an adjective in -i(je)- for sukri is unnecessary. Whereas a root of the shape suk- is possible, it is worth opening the possibility that the u-vowel is secondary and goes back to a metathesis, i.e. *sekur- (or *seqr-) → sukr-. In any case, further evidence is needed.
[D.S.]