pslẽν

This word is found in the inscription LW 80 dated to the 4^th century BCE on paleographic grounds (Gusmani 1975b:12, 53) and as an abbreviated form in LW 10, in the last part of the inscription, i.e. lines 22-24, which have been engraved at a later period when the stele was reused (Gusmani 1964a:254 n. 10).

[D.S.]

acc. sg. c. or dat./gen. pl. (?)	pslẽν	LW 80.12 (Sardis)
abbr.	psl(…)	LW 10.22 (Sardis)

Vetter 1959a:23 n. 12 observes that lines 23 and 24 of LW 10 make use of abbreviations, which leads him to posit an abbreviated form for psl in line 22 (followed by Gusmani 1964a:86; Brandenstein 1931b:19 explained them as “mistakes”). Based on the clarity of the clause, a verbal form with the meaning ‘to be dedicated’ has been inferred for psl, i.e. ẽnaλ=t pakiwalλ mrud psl(…) ‘the stele (is) to the mother of Dionysikles psl’ (cf. Brandenstein 1931b:18f.; Meriggi 1935a:101 and Carruba 1960a:41 treat it also as a verb but emend to pil instead, which is considered outdated with the finding of the other attestation). Despite the wish of seeing a predicate, it is not necessary to force it into the abbreviation psl. This word could have a different function here, resulting in a predicate-less clause, which is not a problem because the phrase is clear enough with its subject mrud ‘stele’ and its indirect object, i.e. the recipient.

Concerning the form pslẽν, Gusmani 1980a:45 assumes an acc. sg. based on the agreement with tẽmwaν or tutra(ν)=k (see also Gusmani 1975b:20). However, theses nouns could be dat./gen. pl. instead. Considering its morphology, Gusmani 1975b:20 thinks of an agent noun in -la- c., but this would be expected to show the ending -ãν (not -ẽν); see Sasseville 2014-2015a:117f. Further evidence is needed in order to bring clarity to this lexeme.

[D.S.]

The word pslẽν is left untranslated by Dusinberre 2003a:234 and Schürr 2006b:1571. Without an etymological link, no meaning can be safely assigned to Lyd. pslẽν and its abbreviated form psl.

[D.S.]