One minor quibble with Randall,
[snip]
> unfortunately, what you have been taught is misleading, or inside-out.
> it is etymology in place of semantics.
> let me illustrate:
> *qittel above does not exist.
> it is not a word. you are not allowed to "conjugate" new vocabulary.
Are we absolutely certain it didn't exist until medieval times? I
would suggest that it's more accurate to say it isn't attested in
biblical Hebrew. It's indeed possible that it didn't exist, but we
don't know that for sure.
Sir Nitpick at your service,
Dave Washburn http://www.nyx.net/~dwashbur
Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name.
Psalm 86:11