/midassar(i)-/, (*33(1))mi-tà-sa5+ra/i-i-
‘(a precious object)’
- Language
- Hieroglyphic Luwian
- Grammar
- subst, c.
- ID
- 2616
1. Individual Anatolian Languages
1.1 Hieroglyphic Luwian
/midassar(i)-/, (*33(1))mi-tà-sa5+ra/i-i-
‘(a precious object)’1.1.1Transmission
This lexeme is attested twice in inscriptions from Karkamis, dating from the late 10th or early 9th to the mid 8th century BCE.
[A.P.]
1.1.2Forms
| acc. sg. | /midassarin/ | (*33(1))mi-tà-sa5+ra/i-i-na | KARKAMIŠ A11a, §8 (Karkamiš) |
| nom. pl. | /midassarinzi/ | (*33(2))mi+ra/i-sa5+ra/i-zi | CEKKE, §12 (Karkamiš) |
[A.P.]
1.1.3Graphic Features
1.1.3.1Phonological Interpretation
Since the word lacks etymological connections so far, the phonological interpretation of its attested spellings is tentative. The suggested /midassar(i)-/ constitutes the most likely shape, but others are also possible, in particular /midassad(i)-/ and /midasr(i)-/.Note for the latter that epenthesis of /t/ would not be unexpected in the cluster, which would result in */midastr(i)-/, clearly not the case here, see Melchert 1994a:272.
The shape of the logographic determinative used here, sign *33 in variations (1) and (2), is discussed by Payne 2018a:115f., who regards it as a depiction of the act of offering.
[AH.B.] [A.P.]
1.1.4Meaning
The precise meaning of this word has yet to be discovered, but it is clear from the contexts of attestation that it denotes a countable precious object, cf. Hawkins 2000a:97, 148f. At CEKKE, §12, it is listed in the plural with several other objects to be given to a certain recipient, and in KARKAMIŠ A11a, §8, land holdings are deemed /midassar(i)-/: *a-wa/i-mu-tá á-ma tá-ti-ia AVUS-ha-ti-ia REGIO-ní-ia (*33(1))mi-tà-sa5+ra/i-i-na kwa/i-a-ti a-tá i-zi-ia-tá, approx. /a=wa=mu=tta amma tadiya huhadiya wattaniya midassarin kwadi anta izziyanta/, meaning ‘They (scil. the aforementioned gods) made my father’s and grandfathers’ lands as a midassar(i)- for me’ (cf. Hawkins 2000a:95).
[AH.B.]
1.1.5Stem
As is evident from the attestations, the word is a common gender noun and follows the i-mutated inflectional pattern. If the phonological interpretation as /midassar(i)-/ should be correct, it appears to be a substantivised former adjective in /-ra/i-/, deriving from an unattested stem */midassa(/i)-/ vel sim. (cf. Melchert 2003b:196).
[AH.B.]