sfẽn(i)-

This lexeme is found in a decree (LW 24) recently dated to the second half of the 6^th century (Euler & Sasseville 2019a:134f. n. 34), and in a fragmentary inscription (LW 42), whose dating formula is partly lost.

[D.S.]

The emended attestation s^!fẽniš (LW 80.5), often adduced to this lexeme here (Gusmani 1980a:96), is perhaps better left as it is and taken as a separate lemma, i.e. ifẽniš.

[D.S.]

Brandenstein 1931b:17 suggests for sfẽnaν on contextual grounds in LW 42 the meaning ‘relatives’, which he further connects to the verb fa-sfẽni-^(t) ‘to own’ (likewise Meriggi 1935a:91f. ‘family, relatives’ ← ‘one’s own’, followed by Hajnal 2004a:189, Gérard 2005a:129 ‘parent’). However, there has been a tendency to regard sfẽn(i)- as an abstract noun ‘one’s own possessions, property’ (thus Gusmani 1964a:205, Carruba 1963a:388), but this has been later abandoned in favor of the more concrete meaning ‘relative’ (see e.g. Gusmani 1975d:167f., Gusmani 1980a:96). That sfẽn(i)- c. designates individuals can be further supported from the morphological perspective of the suffix -ẽn(i)-, for which see Sasseville 2017a:136.

[D.S.]

1. sfẽnd(i)-

For the lemma head, see Lyd. *sfa-.