eDiAna

*ur-o/i-

‘great’

Language
Proto-Luwic
Grammar
adj
ID
3247

1. Individual Anatolian Languages

1.1 Hieroglyphic Luwian

/ura/i-/, MAGNUS+ra/i-

‘great’

1.1.1Transmission

The word is included in inscriptions from Karkamiš, Ancoz, and one of the letters found in Assur. The texts are dated between the 10th and the 8th century BCE.

[AH.B.]

1.1.2Forms

nom. sg. c. /uris/ MAGNUS KARKAMIŠ A30h, §4 (Karkamiš)
dat./loc. sg. /uri/ MAGNUS ANCOZ 9, §2 (Commagene)
nom./acc. pl. n. /uraya/ MAGNUS+ra/i-ia-a ASSUR letter f+g, g§36
    MAGNUS-i+a[...] KARKAMIŠ A21, §12 (Karkamiš)

1.1.3Graphic Features

1.1.3.1Phonological Interpretation

The phonological interpretation can be seen as assured. Even though the word is not attested in fully syllabic spelling in HLuw, it has cognates in several of the Anatolian languages, viz. CLuw ura/i- ‘great’ (CLL:243) and very probably Lyc. B urasla-, whose writing systems provide more reliable information regarding its phonological structure. The logogram (sign *363) serves to tie the word family together, and the underlying phonological form /ura/i-/ was proposed already by Bossert 1932-1933a:303.

[AH.B.]

1.1.4Meaning

The meaning was first suggested by Bossert 1932a:49 in the context of the title ‘Great King’, and followed up on by Bossert 1933-1934a:113f. for the context of the verb /urannu(wa)-/ ‘to make great, magnify’. Semantically, /ura/i-/ is a basic level term, serving as an adjective of quality, but it should be mentioned that such adjectives are quite rare in the HLuw. corpus because of the nature of the attested text genres. The word is also used in some compounds serving as titles, e.g. /hantawattura-/ ‘Great King’, see Yakubovich 2017a:40f.

1.1.5Stem

The adjective /ura/i-/ is a simple thematic derivation from a root. It constitutes the derivational base for a number of cognates in the form of verbs and nouns. Laroche 1950a:43-45 (followed e.g. by Yakubovich 2010d:90) stated that the lexeme is part of many personal names. Although not visible from the HLuw. attestations, which are mainly or wholly spelt logographically, it can be assumed to be subject to i-mutation like other adjectives.

[AH.B.]

*This lemma was co-written with the trainee Marian Wehrstein.

1.1.6Derivatives

  1. /uranu(wa)-/

  2. /uraiya-/

  3. /uraiya-(di)/

  4. /urazza-/

  5. /urazza(/i)-/

  6. /uraiyall(i)-/

1.1.6.1Uncertain Derivatives

  1. /uru-x-ha-/

1.2 Cuneiform Luwian

ura/i-

‘great, board’

1.2.1Transmission

The word’s sole attestation in a fragment of the Kuwattalla tradition depends on the correct restoration of the text (see under Graphic Features).

[E.R.]

1.2.2Forms

nom./acc. sg. n. [u-r]a-an KBo 29.15 ii 10 (CTH 761, NS)

1.2.3Graphic Features

Checked against the photographs in the Mainzer Fotoarchiv. – The reading suggested in CLL:243 (followed in HEG U-Z:87) is highly tentative and based on the equally unassured attribution of tarpandu in the same clause to a Luwian verb ‘to step, tread on’.

[E.R.]

1.2.4Meaning

The restoration of the adjective in the context of [ur]an 2-an išarwiliyan tarpandu ‘let them walk? on the [br]oad? double favorable? (path)’ crosses the line into speculation, but if correct, it corresponds to HLuw. /ura/i-/ ‘great’, whence the meaning assignment.

[E.R.]

1.2.5Stem

The adjectival stem can be assumed to follow the pattern of i-mutation (see also Luw. ura/i- in Hittite transmission).

[E.R.]

1.2.6Compounds

  1. pittaur(i)-

  2. LÚpiddur(i)-

  3. DŠiu-uri (Lebrun 2016a:178-183)

Others: mUra-walkui-, mUra-DU, mUra-DIŠTAR-a-, mUra-Ḫattuša, mḪaštan-uri-, mMaššana-ura-, mNatta-ura-, mArumm-ura-, among others (Laroche 1966a:197f., Melchert 2013c:41, Yakubovich 2017a:40)Contra Neumann 1976a:315, the interpretation of arummura- ‘(a medical ingredient)’ as a compound of arumma ‘extraordinary’ plus ura/i- ‘great’ is highly speculative. Nothing in the context supports this analysis. See HEG A-K:70f. for references.

[E.R.]

1.2.7Derivatives

  1. urazza-

  2. urann(i)-

  3. uranni(ya)-

  4. uralla-

  5. urallann(i)-

  6. uranuwa-(i)

  7. LÚuriyann(i)-

  8. uriyann(i)-MUŠEN

  9. LÚurayann(i)-

  10. urayann(i)-MUŠEN

  11. mUrawanni- (Laroche 1966a:198)

1.3 Luwian in Hittite transmission

ura/i-

‘(unknown)’

1.3.1Transmission

The adjective is found four times in a mythological fragment about the journey of the soul into the Netherworld.

[E.R.]

1.3.2Forms

nom. sg. c. u-ri-iš KUB 43.60 i 26 (CTH 457, NS)
    KUB 43.60 i 27 (CTH 457, NS)
    KUB 43.60 i 28 (CTH 457, NS)
  ⸢u-ri-iš⸣ KUB 43.60 i 26 (CTH 457, NS)
acc. sg. c. (Hitt.) u-ra-an KUB 43.60 i 29 (CTH 457, NS)

The sentence preceding uran kaskal-an at KUB 43.60 i 29 contains kuin kaskal-an, showing that the Luwian word represented by kaskal is a common gender noun.

[E.R.]

1.3.3Graphic Features

Checked against the photographs in the Mainzer Fotoarchiv.

[E.R.]

1.3.4Meaning

The context of the adjective, in which it is used to describe the soul (zi-anza=... uriš KUB 43.60 i 26-28) and the path it takes (uran kaskal-an KUB 43.60 i 29), does not permit a semantic interpretation. However, since the lexeme ura/i- ‘great’ is known from Hieroglyphic Luwian and Cuneiform Luwian derivatives, it is commonly assumed that uriš and uran have the same meaning (Laroche 1956c:28, HW:368, DLL:102, CLL:243, Ünal 2007a:764, HHw:s.v., Archi 2007a:173, HEG U-Z:87f., Fuscagni 2016b). A basic level term such as ‘great’ is suitable for the specification of two such different items as ‘soul’ and ‘path’.

[E.R.]

1.3.5Stem

The switch between -i- and -a- endings points to a Luwian stem with i-mutation, although the distribution (acc. sg. c. in -an) within the Hittite context does not follow the Luwian grammar. Instead, Hittite opts for both stem classes as evident from the present text. In contrast to Hittite, which uses šalli- to render the meaning ‘great’, ura/i- is firmly entrenched in the Luwian lexicon.

[E.R.]

1.3.6Origin

Most scholars seem to regard uri-/ura- as Hittite, next to Luwian ura/i- (Laroche 1956c:28, HW:368, DLL:102, Ünal 2007a:764, HHw:s.v., HEG U-Z:87f.). However, the vacillation of the stem final vowel between -a- and -i- speaks for a Luwian origin or, at least, for the identification with Luwian ura/i-.

[E.R.]

1.4 Lycian A

*ure/i-

‘great’

1.4.1Derivatives

  1. urazi(je)-

1.5 Lycian B

*ure/i-

‘great’

1.5.1Derivatives

  1. urttuwa-

1.6 Carian

*ur°

‘big, great’

1.6.1Derivatives

Possible derivatives

  1. uro ?
  2. *urom > *u/wrm
  3. *urt

Rejected derivatives

  1. †urmλo

2. Reconstruction

2.1Reconstruction ‘great’

The Luwian adjective ura/i- ‘great’ has been compared to Greek εὐρύς and Sanskrit urú- both meaning ‘broad’ (Kimball 1999a:344, HEG U:91 with further literature). However, the Luwian adjective represent either an original thematic o-stem or an i-stem.Evidence for an i-stem could be found, if the noun uriyann(i)- ‘(a high official)’ has been built before the Luwian merger of o- and i-stems, i.e. *ur- + *´-i-/-éi̯- (adj.) → *ur-ii̯- + (sbst.) *-é-no- > uriyann(i)- (as in ḫawiyašša/i-), but cf. under lemma for a different approach. The existence of a stem in *-eh2- may be supported by some derivatives; see perhaps HLuw. /uraiya-/ c. and CLuw. urayann(i)-. Concerning the root, it is possible from a Luwic perspective to reconstruct a pre-form *(h1)eu̯-r- with any possible ablaut grade or *(h1)u̯er- in the zero-grade, i.e. *h1ur-; contra Kimball 1999a:344, a root-final laryngeal is not possible due to the single -r-.

In any case, a Proto-Luwic pre-form *ur-o/i- is reconstructed here. Kimball 1999a:344 adduces the name of a Hittite vessel DUGurā- c. ‘(a big vessel)(?)’ (cf. HEG U:85f.) to this root, which is highly tempting, although it does not prove its existence in Hittite, since the name of the vessel could be Luwian. With its plene spelling, it is also tempting to see the reflex of the stem in *-eh2-, instead of *-ó- as per Kimball.

[D.S.]

3. Proto-Indo-European

3.1Semantic Reconstruction

The meaning of the root can be safely reconstructed as ‘large, broad, wide’. As such, it is a typical “Caland root” (cf., e.g., Rau 2009a:171 note 126).

3.2Morphological Reconstruction

Because of some of the Vedic formations (viz. comp. várīyas-, superl. váriṣṭha-, váriman-, várīman- n., varimán- m., várivas- n.) in which -ī-, -i- seems to be the reflex of a root-final laryngeal, the underlying root is traditionally reconstructed as *h1u̯erhx- (see NIL:251 note 1 for a discussion). The lack of a geminate -r- in the Luwian material, however, which up to now had not been included in the dossier, speaks decisively against such a root structure. Indeed, an aniṭ-root *h1u̯er- (thus, e.g., Ringe 2006a:64) can account for most of the extra-Anatolian evidence, too. For Greek εὐρύς, the reconstruction as *h1ur-ú- rather than *h1urhx-ú- or *h1u̯r̥hx-ú- solves a lot of problems (for which see the discussion in Peters 1980a:52–54). The seṭ-forms Vedic várīyas-, váriṣṭha-, váriman-, várīman- n., varimán- m. might be modeled in analogy to the largely synonymous word family of pr̥thú- ‘broad’ (viz. comp. práthīyas-, superl. práthiṣṭha-, prathimán- m.), itself from a seṭ-root *pleth2-. The only problematic form remains várivas- n. with a unique termination °ivas- (quasi *°hx-u̯es-). Formally, it could be interpreted as a neuter s-stem derived within Indo-Iranian from the u-adjective with the introduction of a new full grade (quasi PIIr. *Hu̯árHu̯as-) comparable to PIIr. *pr̥Hná- ‘full’ (Ved. pūrṇá-) and *párHnas- ‘fullness’ (Ved. parīṇas- n. ‘plenty’). Seen in this light, Vedic várivas- does not rule out an aniṭ-root *h1u̯er-, it only requires us to assume that the analogical influence from the seṭ-root of pr̥thú- ‘broad’ (PIIr. *pr̥tH-ú-) did not only affect várīyas-, váriṣṭha-, váriman-, várīman- n., varimán-, but also the u-adjective urú- (PIIr. *Hur-ú- >> *Hu̯r̥H-ú-, whence *Hu̯árHu̯as-). A preform PIIr. *Hu̯r̥H-ú- is also needed for Avestan vouru-° (cf. PIIr. *pr̥Hú- > *paru- > Av. pouru-), though a full grade *(H)u̯ar(h)-u- (cf. Gaulish ueru-°) remains a possibility. Ossetic Iron wæræx, Digor urux can be from *waru-ka- or *uru-ka- (cf. Abaev IV 90).

The verb uruṣyáti ‘protects, secures, defends’ might have been formed denominally from the secondary s-stem várivas- n. ‘width, space, ease, comfort’ prior to the analogical introduction of the laryngeal (viz. *Hu̯áru̯as- → *Hurus-i̯á-). At least the structure of the verb with its full zeroing-out of the nominal base seems quite archaic (cf. *mélit- ‘honey’ → *mlit-i̯é- > Greek βλίττω ‘cut out the comb of bees, take the honey’, *pék̑u- ‘cattle’ → *pk̑u-i̯é- > Avestan fšuiia- ‘tend cattle’). For the semantics compare Ved. urú kar ‘make wide, liberate’, the more literal meaning ‘gives wide space, makes a wide path’ might be preserved in RV 5.65.6 and 3.5.8 (cf. the translation by Jamison & Brereton 2014a).

While none of the languages other than Luwian ura/i- points to a thematic adjective *h1ur-ó- directly, such a zero-grade formation is not unexpected for a Caland root such as *h1u̯er- (cf., e.g., *luk-ó- ‘bright’ in Vedic rucá-, *(h1)rudh-ó- ‘red’ in Lithuanian rùdas ‘brownish’).

3.3Syntactic Reconstruction and Phraseology

For phraseological correspondences (‘broad earth’, ‘far-reaching fame’, etc.) between Vedic, Greek, and Gaulish see Schmitt 1967a:75. The use of CLuw. urazza- as an epithet of the Sun-god (urazzaš DTiwaz) might be compared Ved. urú- describing Indra (e.g., RV 6.19.1) or the Maruts (e.g., RV 5.57.4). The Luwian phrase uran KASKAL-an ‘broad path’ (in Hittite transmission; KUB 43.60 i 29) matches, at least semantically, Ved. urúm … pánthām ‘broad path’ (RV 1.24.8 et passim; cf. also Gk. εὐρέα πόντον ‘wide sea’ many times in the Iliad and the Odyssey).

[S.H.]

4. Transmission

Ved. urú- (fem. urvī́-) ‘wide, broad, spacious, extended, great, large’ (RV+), várīyas- ‘broader, wider’ (RV+), váriṣṭha- ‘broadest, widest’ (RV+), urviyā́ adv. ‘widely’ (RV+), váras- n. ‘width, breadth, expanse, room, space’ (RV), váriman-, várīman- n., varimán- m. ‘expanse’ (RV+), úras- n. ‘breast, chest’, várivas- n. ‘room, width, space, free scope, ease, comfort, bliss’ (RV+).Cf., e.g., NIL:250f., EWAia I:227 s.v. urú-, EWAia II:514 s.v. váras-, EWAia I:226 s.v. úras-.

OAv., YAv. vouru° in compounds (e.g., YAv. vouru.dōiθra- ‘whose eyes observe widely’, OAv. vourucašāni- ‘whose eyes go far’ (~ Ved. urucákṣas-), Ossetic Iron wæræx, Digor urux ‘wide, spacious’, YAv. varah- n. ‘breast, chest’, Persian bar ‘id.’.Cf., e.g., EWAia I:227 s.v. urú-, I:226 s.v. úras-.

Gk. εὐρύς ‘wide, broad, far-reaching’ (Il.+), Myc. FCM in names such as e-u-ru-da-mo (~ Gk. Εὐρύδημος), e-u-ru-qo-ta, etc., Gk. εὖρος n. ‘breadth, width’ (Od.+).Cf., e.g., GEW I:592f. s.v. εὐρύς, DELG:387f. s.v. εὐρύς, EDG:483f. s.v. εὐρύς, DMic I 264 s.v. e-u-ru-da-mo, NIL:250f., Peters 1980a:52–54.

Osc. nom. sg. f. uruvú ‘broad’.Cf., e.g., Untermann 2000a:810.

Gaulish ueru- in toponyms (Ueru-lamium, Ueru-bium, etc.) and anthroponyms (Ueru-cloetius, Ueru-ccius, etc.)?Cf., e.g., Delamarre 2003a:317 s.v. ueru-.

Toch. B wartstse, A wärts ‘broad, wide’, B aurtstse ‘id.’ (< *e(n)- + *wärtse).Cf., e.g., Adams 1999a:133 s.v. aurtstse ~ wartstse; NIL:253 note 11.

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