*mol-

The equation between Hitt. māl- n. and CLuw. māl- allows for the reconstruction of a neuter root noun with o-grade of the root (both *mol- and *mōl- are phonologically fine); cf. Rieken 1999a:51 for the assessment of an acrostatic paradigm. A causative-iterative can also be reconstructed based on CLuw. mal(a)i-^(di) and Lyc. mel(e)i-^(di) (see PLuw. *moléi̯e/o-^(di)). Although the fragmentary context does not allow verification of the semantics, there is probability that a root verb is also found in Pal. mālandu corresponding to Hitt. mala-/mal-^(ḫi), which would justify the reconstruction of a Proto-Anatolian root verb of the ḫi-conjugation, i.e. *mól-/ml-´. The root of these words is connected to the PIE roots *men- ‘to think’ and *(s)mer- ‘to keep in mind’ by Puhvel (HED M:21), although an etymology that goes back to the root *mel- ‘to think’ is phonologically more adequate (thus following Rieken 1999a:49-51, Kloekhorst in EDHIL:545f., but 546f. and Serangeli 2016b:190f., who adduces all cognates).

[D.S.]

According to Serangeli 2016b:187, the basic meaning of the root *mel- may have been ‘think positively of something/someone’, which would explain not only the verbal stems (some of them of denominal origin) listed in the table above, but also the nominal formations such as Latin melior, melius ‘better’, Greek ὦ μέλε ‘my friend!’, Tocharian A mäl-kärteṃ ‘my dear one’ (polite form of address). If Czech mele mne ‘it annoys me’ (cf. Greek μέλει μοι ‘I care for’) belongs here (and not to mlít ‘to grind’, 3sg. mele), it would constitute a trivial semantic deterioration.

The Anatolian evidence points to an o-grade root noun *mól- n. ‘(positive) thought (vel sim.)’. In the classification of root nouns by Schindler (cf. Schindler 1972a, Schindler 1972b), there are no examples of neuter root nouns with an o-grade (“Neutra mit R(ō̆) fehlen”; Schindler 1972b:8). However, Rieken 1999a:14–16 and 46–51 convincingly argues that such a type (with o-grade in the strong and e-grade in the weak stem) may have existed as well, and that Hittite preserves a couple of examples of it, including māl- n. ‘mental power, intelligence (?)’ < *mól-, weak stem *mél-. This reconstruction is in line with Peters’ analysis (Peters 2013a:235f., followed by Serangeli 2016b:190) of Greek μέλει ‘is the object of care’ (i.e., μέλω (2) in the table above) as going back to a (remodeled) *melē ‘with care’, i.e., the predicatively used instr. sg. of a root noun functioning as a verbal abstract, which we can now specify as *mel-eh₁ ‘with (positive) thought’.

[S.H.]

Hittite māl- n. ‘mental power, intelligence (?)’, Luwian Glossenkeil māl- n. ‘thought, idea (?)’, Hittite mala-/mal-^(ḫi) ‘to approve’, malā(i)-^(mi) ‘to approve’, Luwian Glossenkeil  mal(a)i-^(di) ‘to think, contemplate’, Lycian mel(e)i-^(di) ‘to approve’, Lycian theonym malija ‘Athena’.

Ancient Greek μέλω (1) ‘take care of, take an interest in’ (perf. ptc. μεμηλώς Il.+), Hesychius μέλει· φροντίζει ‘takes thought’, μέλει τάδε· ἐννοεῖ ‘has in his thoughts’, μέλω (2) ‘be an object of thought’, μέλει μοι ‘I care for’, perf. act. μέμηλε ‘is the object of thought’, mid. μέμβλεται ‘is the object of thought’, PN Μελέαγρος ‘having the care of the weapon’, μελέτη ‘care’ (Hes.+), μέλημα ‘care, attention’ (A.+), ὦ μέλε ‘my friend!’ (Attic), etc.Cf., e.g., GEW II:204–206 s.v. μέλω, Peters 2013a, Serangeli 2016b, LIV²+s.v. *mel-¹.

Latin melior, melius ‘better’ (suppletive comparative of bonus ‘good’)Cf., e.g., WH I:s.v., EDLIL:s.v., Untermann 2000a:s.v., LIV²:s.v.

Proto-Celtic *molā- ‘to praise’ (Old Irish dep. molaithir, etc.), *molātu- ‘praise’ (Gaulish molatus, Old Irish molad, Middle Welsh molawd).Cf., e.g., Schumacher 2000a:78, Serangeli 2022a:281.

Tocharian A mäl-kärteṃ ‘my dear one’ (polite form of address).Cf., e.g., Pinault 1993a:161–180.

Czech mele mne ‘it annoys me’.Cf., e.g., Machek 1965a:35f., LIV²+s.v. *mel-¹.

Armenian małtʿ ‘prayer, supplication’ (*ml̥-tí-).Cf., e.g., Serangeli 2022a:281 with n. 86,LIV²+s.v. *mel-¹.