“PUGNUS”-sá-
‘to beat, subdue (?)’
- Language
- Hieroglyphic Luwian
- Grammar
- verb
- ID
- 2874
1. Individual Anatolian Languages
1.1 Hieroglyphic Luwian
“PUGNUS”-sá-
‘to beat, subdue (?)’1.1.1Transmission
This hapax is attested in a single inscription from Karkamiš, dating to the 10th or early 9th century BCE.
[A.P.]
1.1.2Forms
| 1sg. pret. act. | /…/ | “PUGNUS”-sá-ha | KARKAMIŠ A12, §7 (Karkamiš) |
[A.P.]
1.1.3Graphic Features
1.1.3.1Phonological Interpretation
The phonological interpretation of this word has so far remained unclear.
The logogram PUGNUS (sign *39) is used for a number of different words, and it is possible that the present verb should be regarded as a member of the families around HLuw. /allummi-/ ‘strongly’ or [2221]HLuw. /ari-(ti)/ ‘to raise’ (the latter is suggested by Starke 1990a:305). Yet, these words usually come with more overt spellings in the shape of syllabographic additions or reading aids that help to tie the attestation to one word over the other. As it is, the present lexeme cannot be assigned to any of the possible cognates securely and its phonological form is hence left mostly uninterpreted.
[AH.B.]
1.1.4Meaning
The meaning ‘to beat, subdue (?)’ is assigned tentatively to this verb (similarly Starke 1990a:305 “unterwerfen”), based on the spelling with the logogram PUGNUS and the context of attestation. The latter strongly suggests a meaning from the domain of conquer vel sim., since KARKAMIŠ A12, §7 occurs in a passage relating military successes of the author: á-wa/i-ia-na-wa/i-na-pa-wa/i(URBS) “CASTRUM”-sà 100 (CURRUS)ku-sà-ti INFRA-tá “PUGNUS”-sá-ha, approx. /Awayanawanna=ba=wa harnissa … kusadi zanta …-sahha/, perhaps meaning ‘(I devastated the river-land of the town Sapisa), and I beat (?) down the fortresses of the town Awayana with 100 chariots’ (cf. Hawkins 2000a:113). Future finds may result in a semantic reappraisal.
[AH.B.]
1.1.5Stem
Since much of the stem of the word is opaque, it cannot be said with certainty if the attested spelling should be taken as a sign of a stem in /-ssa-(i)/, cf. Sasseville 2021a:489f. If so, it may be iterative in meaning. The derivational base is unknown; Starke 1990a:305 suggests /ari-(ti)/ ‘to raise’, which is possible, but not at all assured.
[AH.B.]