epri-^(ti)

This lexeme is a hapax attested in TL 44, the pillar of Xanthos, dated stylistically to around 400 BCE and contextually to shortly after the ascension of the Persian emperor Artaxerxes II in 405-404 BCE (Borchhardt & Eichner 1997-1999a:19f.).

[O.B.]

3sg. pres. ind. act.

epriti

TL 44c.14 (Xanthos)

Note that e.g. Meriggi 1937a:512 n. 2 and Neumann 2007a:64 rather read the form as consisting of epri (a form of Lyc. A epre/i- ‘back’) and the relative pronoun ti. This analysis is not convincing, however (see Schürr 2004b:189).

[O.B.]

Melchert (DLL:15) and Schürr 2004b:189-191 connect Lyc. A epri-^ti to the Hittite verb ḫap(pa)riye/a-^(mi) ‘to sell, hand over, etc.’ and consequently assume a meaning ‘to hand over’ (a translation with this interpretation may be found in Schürr 2004b:191). This connection between the Lycian and Hittite verbs is not assured, however (see Shevoroshkin 2012a:462), casting doubt on the Melchert and Schürr’s semantic interpretation. Sasseville 2021a:156f. rather connects epri-^(ti) to Lyc. epre/i- ‘back’ with the derived meaning ‘to come as back-up’ (a resulting translation of the passage is available in Sasseville 2021a:157). This analysis rests on the martial context in which the verb appears as well as its derivational relationship to epre/i- ‘back’, and is thus preferable at present.

[O.B.]

Lyc. epri-^(ti) is an unleniting i-stem verb.

[O.B.]

For a plausible derivational base, see Lyc. A epre/i-.