tarpτa-^(d)

This lexeme is attested in a metrical inscription. It is noteworthy that the inscription uses the sign <y>, which may indicate a dating in the Archaic period (see Euler & Sasseville 2019a:129).

[D.S.]

3sg. pres. act.

tarpτad

LW 13.9 (Sardis)

It is rightly interpreted as a verbal form in Gusmani 1964a:210 and Melchert 1994a:374, contra Brandenstein 1929a:301 “nominal form”.

[D.S.]

Based on the assumption that the root tarp- means ‘to own’, a meaning such as ‘to appropriate’ is suggested by Carruba 1960a:50 and Gusmani 1964a:210. However, this semantic interpretation of the root is here considered outdated (see [X]tarpla-). From a morphematic perspective, Sasseville 2021a:111 explains that the verb should mean ‘to act as a tarpτa’, i.e. ‘The wrato-official will act as a tarpτa towards it (or apply his function of tarpτa on it) for Asẽmiš(?), child of Wotas(?).’. Concerning the etymology, a good starting point appears to be a comparison with the Cuneiform Luwian root *tarp- ‘replace’ and Lyc. B trppala- ‘substitute, representative (?)’, thus suggesting a basic meaning ‘to replace, represent’. This would lead to the translation of ‘The wrato-official will act as a representative towards it (or apply his function of representative on it) for Asẽmiš(?), child of Wotas(?).’ (thus also Billing & Sasseville 2024a:108). According to Billing & Sasseville (ibid.), the pronoun =ad refers to qirad ‘property’.

[D.S.]

Carruba 1960a:50 rightly recognizes -τa- as a suffix also found in other Lydian words, e.g. kipτa-^(d) and paλτa-; a comparison with Hitt. -zziya- and Lyc. -ze/i- is discussed by Gusmani 1969a:139 (cf. Melchert 1994a:375 on the accentuation), although an actual distinction between Lyd. -τa- and -τ(i)- matching Lyc. -za- and -ze/i- is only found in Sasseville 2021a:110 with n. 45. Sasseville (ibid.) also explains these formations as denominative verbs in -a-^(d) derived from agent nouns in -τa- c. with the meaning ‘to act as the referent of the base noun prototypically acts.’.

[D.S.]

For the lemma head see Lyd. *tarp-.