Reconstructions Search

It is likely that this preposition was initially used only with pronominal suffixes (which is the state of affairs in most languages), but later also obtained the function of introducing a nominal object in Canaanite and Aramaic languages (Joüon–Muraoka 2005:344). MSA forms are explicable only if one assumes the loss of initial ˀ. The nature of initial k in Geez kiyā- which most scholars trace back to this preposition remains uncertain (Arakelova 2001:38).

likely candidate for a PWS lexical innovation, ultimately connected with the verbal root *ˁwd ‘to turn’ It is hard to avoid thinking, however, that the functional equivalent of *ˁād- in Akkadian, namely adīni ‘until now; not yet’, has something to do with it also in terms of etymology (Kogan 2015: 76)