Proto-Semitic root
*marār-
‘bitter’ 1, ‘myrrh’ 2
di Mino’s gloss: to be bitter; bitterness, myrrh
Record K0153 ↗ · Basis: kaphtor
In Linear A2 entries
Notes
HALOT 629–630 derives the name of myrrh from מרר ‘to be bitter’, the resin tasting bitter, and Greek μύρρα, σμύρνα from the Semitic word. Payne Smith 259 prints Greek μύρρα beside Syriac mūrā.
Reflexes20 languages
East Semitic2
- Akkadianmarāru 1murru 2 (HALOT 630)gloss withheldAnderson–Moser 2024 root mrr
- Eblaitic[m]ar-ru₁₂-um, mu-ru₁₂ 1 (Kogan 2011, 238)[m]ar-ru₁₂-um /marrum/ 1 (VE 884; Krebernik 1983, 34)mu-ru₁₂-um, mu-ru₁₂ /murr/ 1, 2 (Sanmartín GlOS 2, 49)gloss withheld
Northwest Semitic8
- AramaicMRR 1 (Aramaic Root Atlas; DNWSI 696)gloss withheldAnderson–Moser 2024 root mrr
- Hebrewmarar 1 (BDB 600)mōr 2 (HALOT 629)gloss withheldAnderson–Moser 2024 root mrr
- Ugariticmr 1 (DULAT 562)mr 2 (HALOT 630)gloss withheld
- Judaic Aramaicmᵉrōrāmᵉrīrūt 1 (HALOT 636, 638; DJPA 331b apud CAL)mūrā 2 (HALOT 630)gloss withheld
- Syrian Aramaicmarrā 1 (HALOT 638; Payne Smith 297)mūrā 2 (HALOT 630)mawrer 2 (Payne Smith 259)gloss withheld
- Amoritetamrir 1 (Sanmartín GlOS 2, 50)gloss withheld
- Phoenicianmr 2 (Krahmalkov 311; T 198)gloss withheld
- Mandaic Aramaicmūrā 2 (HALOT 630)gloss withheld
Arabic1
- Arabicmurrmarra 1 (HALOT 629, 638)murr 2 (HALOT 630)murrat 2 (Biella 284)gloss withheld
Epigraphic South Arabian1
- Epigraphic South ArabianSab mrrt 2 (Biella 284)mrt 2 (HALOT 630)gloss withheld
Ethiopic and Modern South Arabian8
- Geezmarīr 1 (HALOT 629)
- Tigrinyamärärä 1 (LGz. 360)
- Tigremärra 1 (LGz. 360)
- Amharicmärrärä 1 (LGz. 360)
- Argobbamärrära 1 (LGz. 360)
- Hararimärära 1 (LGz. 360)
- Guragemärärä 1 (LGz. 360)
- Mehrimər 1 (Kogan 2011, 238)gloss withheld
† Gloss withheld: the cited dictionary’s licence is closed, so its form and page stand without its gloss.