Reconstruction:Proto-Semitic/kapp-

This Proto-Semitic entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Semitic

Noun

*kapp- f

1. palm, hand

   Coordinate term: *raḥat-

   Holonym: *yad-

Usage notes

It is probable that there was a distinction between *kapp- and *raḥat-: if it was that one denotes the inner side of the hand with the fingers and thumb and the other without it is difficult to decide which is which. Likely it was that *kapp- tendentially meant the cupped inner of the hand while *raḥat- meant the flat hand: this picture reflects in the tool names or technical meanings secondarily derived from the words.

Inflection

Declension of *kapp-

Case	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	*kappum	*kappāna	plural stem + *-ūna
Genitive	*kappim	*kappayna	plural stem + *-īna
Accusative	*kappam
possessive forms
1st person	*kappī / *kappVya	—	*kappVni
2nd person m	*kappVka	*kappVkumā / *kappVkumay	*kappVkum(ū)
2nd person f	*kappVki		*kappVkin(ā)
3rd person m	*kappVšu	*kappVšumā / *kappVšumay	*kappVšum(ū)
3rd person f	*kappVša		*kappVšin(ā)
Note: the endings -m and -na are dropped in the bound form, which may also undergo syncopation of an unstressed final vowel where possible. Note: the ending -V before the possessive endings responds to case: *kappuya for nom. case, *kappiya for gen. case, *kappaya for acc. case, etc. Declension of 2sg m. possessive form (your/thy m.) *kapp- Singular Dual Plural Nominative *kappuka *kappāka plural stem + *-ūka Genitive *kappika *kappayka plural stem + *-īka Accusative *kappaka Declension of 2sg f. possessive form (your/thy f.) *kapp- Singular Dual Plural Nominative *kappuki *kappāki plural stem + *-ūki Genitive *kappiki *kappayki plural stem + *-īki Accusative *kappaki

Descendants

• East Semitic:
  • Akkadian: 𒀉 (kappum)
• West Semitic:
  • Central Semitic:
    • Arabic: كَفّ (kaff)
      • Gulf Arabic: چَف (/t͡ʃɐf/)
      • Maltese: keff
      • → Persian: کف
    • Northwest Semitic:
      • Aramaic:

        Imperial Aramaic: 𐡊𐡐 (kp)

        Jewish Babylonian Aramaic: כַּפָּא (kappā)

        • Classical Syriac: ܟܱ݁ܦܴ݁ܐ (kappā)
      • Canaanite:
        • Hebrew: כַּף (kaf, kap̄)
          • → Ge'ez: ካፍ (kaf)
      • Ugaritic: 𐎋𐎔 (kp /⁠kappu⁠/)