# \*ʕlm: 'know; sign'

> Proto-Semitic *ʕlm, 'know; sign': reflexes in 5 language(s).

A page of the Linear A Lexicon's research wiki, in [Wiki](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/index.md>) › [Kaphtor Semitic Roots](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/index.md>) › [ʿ](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/ayin/index.md>). Updated 2026-10-26.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*ʕlm |
| Meaning | 'know; sign' |
| Basis | reconstruction SED; meaning SED, corrected |
| SED | SEDonline semet 3159 |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arabic | ʕlm 'know' (Lane 2138) | Lane 2138 |  |
| Jibbali | ʿéləm (Rubin 2014 656) | Rubin 2014 656 | gloss withheld |
| Pre-Islamic North Arabian | Safaitic ʿlm (Al-Jallad–Jaworska 52); ʿlm, ʿlmt (Al-Jallad 2026, 14) | Al-Jallad–Jaworska 52; Al-Jallad 2026 14 | gloss withheld |
| Epigraphic South Arabian | Sab ʿlm (Biella 368; Sabaweb lemma 3693) | Biella 368; Sabaweb lemma 3693 | gloss withheld |
| Ugaritic | ʕlm Gpass./N (DULAT 154) | DULAT 154 | gloss withheld |

A form keeps its source's gloss only when the source is public domain or openly licensed.

## Notes

Kogan 2015, 40 n. 94 (apud SEDonline 93) sets Arabic and Sabaic ʕlm under PCS \*ʕlm '(to) sign', with no connection to Hebrew ʿlm 'to be hidden'; Geez ʿallama 'to write, seal, teach, mark' (LGz. 61) is an Arabism (Kogan 2015, 40 n. 93). The 'be dark, hidden' forms are 3633 \*ɣlm.

## Linked from

- [ʿ](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/ayin/index.md>)

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Page: https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/ayin/2624_know_sign/
Licence: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Cite as: di Mino, Tom. 2026. Linear A Lexicon. Plasma AI. https://linear-a.ai/. Data: kaphtor, commit add28e94.