xurzaza-
‘(a professional title)’
- Language
- Lycian A
- Grammar
- subst, c.
- ID
- 3478
1. Individual Anatolian Languages
1.1 Lycian A
xurzaza-
‘(a professional title)’1.1.1Transmission
This lexeme is attested in the inscription of the inscribed pillar of Xanthos, dated contextually to shortly after the ascension of Artaxerxes II in 405-404 BCE and stylistically to around 400 BCE (Borchhardt & Eichner 1997-1999a:19f.).
[D.S.]
1.1.2Forms
| gen. pl. | xurzazẽ | TL 44b.44 (Xanthos) |
Melchert (DLL:86) suggests that the genitive plural functions here as a dative, which is not cogent. Assuming discontinuous syntax, it may be dependent on θrm͂mã, i.e. ‘the θrm͂mã of the xurzazẽ’. Pace Meriggi 1978c:256 and Neumann 2007a:141, a nom./acc. sg. n. of a suffix -ze/i- is not likely due to the preceding -a-.
[D.S.]
1.1.3Graphic Features
The reading by Kalinka 1901a:42 as xurzazã was corrected to xurzazẽ by Friedrich 1932a:65 and Schürr 2012a:122.
[D.S.]
1.1.4Meaning
The meaning ‘figure in a carving (?)’ suggested by Melchert (DLL:86) was based on an etymological connection with Hitt. kuršā- is now outdated. Schürr 2012a:123 suggests instead an ethnicon ‘Leute von Churza’, which is possible, but unmotivated. Taking at face value, we might simply be dealing with an agent noun formation in -aza- derived from the unattested verbal base *xurz-. Along those lines, xurzaza- would denote a professional title, whose function cannot be determined at present. For the potential etymological connection with Hitt. ḫuwart-/ḫurt-(ḫi) ‘to curse’ (thus Shevoroshkin 2002a:211, translating the root xurz- with ‘vow’, and Gehrisch 2018a:69 “fluchbeladen”), see the Lycian cognate xurzide.
[D.S.]
1.1.5Stem
If the interpretation as a formation in -aza- c. is correct (pace DLL:86), we are likely dealing with a deverbal formation from an unattested verbal base *xurz- (vel sim.).
[D.S.]