ciwar(i)-
‘oracle (response)’
- Language
- Lydian
- Grammar
- subst, n.
- ID
- 2671
1. Individual Anatolian Languages
1.1 Lydian
ciwar(i)-
‘oracle (response)’1.1.1Transmission
This lexeme is found in two inscriptions that have not yet been properly dated.
[D.S.]
1.1.2Forms
| nom./acc. sg. | ciward | LW 10.10 (Sardis) | |
| [c]iward | LW 46.7 (Magnesia on Mt. Sipylos) |
1.1.3Graphic Features
Meriggi 1935a:94 suggests restoring the letter c in [.]iward (LW 46.7), which is cogent, although the fragmentary context does not allow any verification (hesitant Gusmani 1964a:92).
[D.S.]
1.1.4Meaning
Gusmani 1960a:278 (and Gusmani 1961a:188f.) suggests on contextual grounds that ciward in LW 10.10 refers to the divine response of the god who is being consulted. This is entirely persuasive, since the sentence with ciward is followed by a direct speech uttered by the author explaining what the god has answered him. Therefore, his translation as ‘oracle’ (Gusmani 1964a:93, followed by Sasseville 2021a:385 ‘oracle response’) is adopted here.
[D.S.]
1.1.5Stem
For the positing of the stem as -r(i)- involving syncope of the vowel of the ending, see Sasseville 2017a:134. The derivational base is likely to be ciwa-, i.e. ciw- ‘god’ → ciw-a- ‘divine (?)’ → ciwa-r(i)- ‘oracle’.
[D.S.]
For the probable derivational base, see Lyd. ciwa-.