Reconstruction:Proto-Semitic/zaman-

This Proto-Semitic entry contains reconstructed words 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

*zaman-

1. time

Inflection

Declension of *zaman-

	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	*zamanum	*zamanāna	plural stem + *-ūna
Genitive	*zamanim	*zamanayna	plural stem + *-īna
Accusative	*zamanam
possessive forms
1st person	*zamanī / *zamanya	—	*zamanni
2nd person m	*zamanka	*zamankumā / *zamankumay	*zamankum(ū)
2nd person f	*zamanki		*zamankin(ā)
3rd person m	*zamanšu	*zamanšumā / *zamanšumay	*zamanšum(ū)
3rd person f	*zamanša		*zamanšin(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.

Descendants

• Akkadian: 𒋛𒈠𒉡 (zimān; simanu)
  • → Classical Syriac: ܙܡܢܐ‎ (zamnā)
  • → Persian: زمان‎ (zamân, “time”) (see there for further descendants)
• Amharic: ዘመን (zämän)
• Arabic: زَمَن‎ (zaman), زَمَان‎ (zamān) (see there for further descendants)
• Aramaic:

  Classical Syriac: ܙܲܒܼܢܵܐ‎ (zaḇnā)

  Aramaic: זַמְנָא‎ (zamnā), זַבְנָא‎ (zaḇnā)

  Mandaic: ࡆࡀࡌࡀࡍ‎ (zaman)

• Ge'ez: ዘመን (zämän)
• Hebrew: זְמָן‎ (zəmān) (stem: זְמַנּ־‎ (zəmann-))
• Tigrinya: ዘመን (zämän)

References

• Kaufman, Stephen A. (1974) The Akkadian Influences on Aramaic (The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago Assyriological Studies; 19)‎^[1], Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press, →ISBN, pages 91–92
• Leslau, Wolf (1991) Comparative Dictionary of Geʿez (Classical Ethiopic), 2nd edition, Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz, →ISBN, page 638
• Nöldeke, Theodor (1910) Neue Beiträge zur semitischen Sprachwissenschaft‎^[2] (in German), Straßburg: Karl J. Trübner, page 44