*k^u̯ód-h₂o

The attestations of this lexeme are confined to Sardis. It occurs in a variety of inscriptions, both poetic and in prose, which reflect different genres.

[I.Y.]

The lexeme under discussion is deployed to introduce subordinate clauses and phrases, which usually defy translation. In most cases, but not always, it occurs clause-initially. Its meaning ‘as’ was first recognized in Meriggi 1935a:85 on the basis of the least opaque context LW 23.3, where its demonstrative counterpart is edko-k. The same translation is also compatible with the context of LW 22.6 (Carruba 1969a:72, Yakubovich 2017b:276). In view of LW 12.9, where kot apparently forms a constituent with the following noun in the nominative, one can suggest that this lexeme is capable of introducing similes and thus can sometimes be translated as ‘like’.

The hypothesis that kot has the additional secondary meaning ‘that’ in LW 10 (Vetter 1959a:47f., n. 19) is not supported by the translation of the relevant context and appears to be superfluous. The proposal that kot can mean ‘because’ (Carruba 1960a:37 n. 14) is likely on comparative and typological grounds, but the contexts adduced are too obscure for its confirmation. The status of kot as a relative adverb can be further supported by etymological considerations (Melchert 1992a:32). The old attempts to interpret its function differently, which are referred in Gusmani 1964a:154, must be regarded as superseded.        

[I.Y.]

HED K:228f.