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The Indefinite-Relative-Interrogative Stem: sem- sm- smo-

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 April 2026

E. Adelaide Hahn*
Affiliation:
Hunter College

Abstract

[The indefinite-relative-interrogative stem recently recognized for Hittite is not mo- as has been thought but smo-, i.e. IE sem- sm-, already known as forming indefinites and the numeral ‘one’. From it are to be derived Hitt. sanas (cf. Gr. μόνος) and sa-; masis and masiyanki; -ma (perhaps seen in namma, nasma, and imma), man, and mahhan, and their cognates, Skt. sma, Gr. μά, μέν, and μā́ν; Lat. -met and the particle *sme in case-forms of Skt. pronouns; Gr. μ∊τά and μέχρι; perhaps Gr. μή. The collocation μἐν . . . δέ is a combination of relative-demonstrative like ut . . . ita, etc.; indeed, sem- smo- in its uses and derivatives shows frequent parallels to kwo-.]

Information

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 1942 Linguistic Society of America

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