*mallid(d)u-

Reconstructed from a personal name in NS Hittite texts borne by a so-called ‘Old Woman’ from Turmitta, an alleged ritual author.

[Zs.S.]

abs.	fMa-al-li-id-du-un-˹na˺	KUB 30.51 obv. 15’	(CTH 277, NS)
	]-al-li-du-un!-na	KUB 33.70 rev. iii 6	(CTH 403, NS)
	]-˹du˺-un-na	KBo 31.5 i 4’	(CTH 277, NS)
		KUB 9.12 i 1	(CTH 403, NS)
unknown	fMa-al-li-du-[	KBo 7.58 rev. 2	(CTH 403, NS)
	˹fMa-al-li˺-[	KBo 14.68 i 12’	(CTH 277, NS)
	]-al-li-du-un-[	KBo 31.5 iv 4’’	(CTH 277, NS)

Attestations following Zehnder 2010a:209 completed with Laroche 1966b:111 and checked against the photographs of the Konkordanz.

[Zs.S.]

For the emendation <un^!> in KUB 33.70 rev. iii 6 see Laroche 1955b:226. Based on the photographs of the Konkordanz traces of <ma> could not have been identified either in KBo 31.5 iv 4’’ (contra Dardano 2006:136, with question mark) or in KUB 33.70 rev. iii 6 (contra Görke 2015d).

[Zs.S.]

This meaning – either as an adjective or as a substantivized adjective – is generally assumed (Starke 1990a:193; del Monte 2002a:63; Dardano 2006:136; Zehnder 2010a:209).

[Zs.S.]

Starke 1990a:193 explains this name as Luwian malliddu-ann(i)- ‘Honigsüße habend, lieblich’, from an adjective “malliddu(i)-*” ‘honigsüß” (followed by del Monte 2002a:63 and Dardano 2006:136). However, Zehnder 2010a:209 with ref. rightly points out that there is no such possessive suffix in Luwian. Zehnder 2010a:209, who also claims that this name is “offensichtlich” Luwian, entertains two possibilities: either a diminutive with -anna/i- as ‘kleine Süße’ or (rather) as a hypochoristic with -nna- to *Malliddu. Both suggestions are possible, moreover, one can even analyse this name with the denominal suffix -wann(i)- in the meaning ‘a sort of’ (and subsequent regular contraction, for a parallel formation see ānnawann(i)- ‘stepmother’ from ānna/i- ‘mother’, Melchert 2003b:197).

Whichever solution is the correct one, *malliddu- is obviously related to Hittite miliddu- ‘sweet (of figs, honey)’ and it must be Luwian due to its geminated <-ll-> (and the variation in the spelling of the dental can be attributed to the Hittitization of the name, Starke 1990a:193 n. 629). If we are dealing with -anna/i- or -wann(i)-, then the whole name is Luwian (both suffixes presuppose a noun, but it can be obviously a substantivized adjective too). However, the hypochoristic analysis is equally possible and since this suffix is not language specific (cf. most recently Zehnder 2010a:42–45 with refs.), one cannot exclude the possibility of a non-Luwian, e.g. Hittite formation based on a loanword from Luwian (note that Hutter 2003a:249 n. 29 does not consider her Luwian pointing out that her ritual belongs to the Hattian [and not Hurrian, contra Zehnder 2010a:209] sphere). All in all, its Luwian origin is assured, but its precise synchronic status remains open.

[Zs.S.]