𐌔𐌄𐌅𐌀𐌊𐌍𐌄

Umbrian

Etymology

Unknown. Possibly from *sēwos (“each, every”) combined with the root of acnu (“years”), itself from *atnos. Evidence of a similar development in other Italic languages may derive from Oscan sivom. According to this proposition, the term is cognate with Latin annus. Alternatively, may be derived from *sē- (“for itself, privately”) combined with *-wak-ni. The scholar Carl Darling Buck proposed that *atnos- may evolved into *aknos- via contamination by *agō.

Adjective

𐌔𐌄𐌅𐌀𐌊𐌍𐌄 • (sevakne) (accusative singular) (early Iguvine)

The meaning of this term is uncertain. Possibilities include: perfect, unblemished, faultless; ceremonial, solemn, sacrificial

Usage notes

In some inscriptions, it is unclear if the term functions as an adjective or a substantivized noun. Philologist Carl Darling Buck considers one possibly substantivized form to be certainly masculine, although he does not specify the gender of the other forms. The linguist Michiel de Vaan considers both this form and the ablative singular form to have functioned as the masculine and neuter forms of this term in their respective cases. However, the linguist Augusto Ancillotti lists the accusative singular form as both masculine and feminine and the ablative form as neuter.

Declension

(accusative plural) e.Ig. 𐌔𐌄𐌅𐌀𐌊𐌍𐌄𐌚 (sevaknef)
(ablative singular) e.Ig. 𐌔𐌄𐌅𐌀𐌊𐌍𐌄 (sevakne)
(ablative plural) e.Ig. 𐌔𐌄𐌅𐌀𐌊𐌍𐌉𐌔 (sevaknis)

Alternative forms

𐌔𐌄𐌅𐌀𐌊𐌍𐌉 (sevakni)

References

Ancillotti, Augusto, Cerri, Romolo (2015) “sevakne”, in Vocabolario dell'umbro delle tavole di Gubbio [Vocabulary of Umbrian and of the Iguvine Tables] (in Italian), page 46
Buck, Carl Darling (1904) A Grammar of Oscan and Umbrian: With a Collection of Inscriptions and a Glossary
De Vaan, Michiel (2008) Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 7)‎^[1], Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN
Poultney, James Wilson (1959) The Bronze Tables of Iguvium‎^[2], Baltimore: American Philological Association