Hello Isaac:
Thanks for your comments.
I follow you somewhat.
But what then is the root meaning of ע ayin in על ? Above?
And what then is the root meaning of ע ayin in עב ? Thick, solid?
And what is the root meaning of א alef in שאה ? Lift?
I gather you disagree with this chart of root letter, base meanings; and the corresponding evolution of the letter forms from hieroglyphs?
http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/28_chart.html
http://net.lib.byu.edu/imaging/negev/Origins.html
regards,
fred burlingame
On Sun, Jan 30, 2011 at 3:50 PM, Isaac Fried <if AT math.bu.edu> wrote:
This is, indeed, the ultimate question ––– the end of the road. All Hebrew single-consonant roots (excepting R) are, in my opinion, but existence markers, with an added shade of meaning. The meaning of the root L is what it is in AL על 'above', the meaning of the root B is what it is in AB עב 'thick, solid', the meaning of the root $ is what it is in $)H שאה, 'lift' [compare $OA שוע 'noble'], the root S is what it is in SA), 'carry, lift', and so on. The root R indicates, in my opinion, plurality, namely, that a material state consists of many free bodies, for instance RSQ, PRQ, $BR, etc.. Then, there is context and usage.
Isaac Fried, Boston University
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