# \*ʕālam-: 'long time, eternity'

> Proto-Semitic *ʕālam-, 'long time, eternity': reflexes in 11 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 2026-10-22.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*ʕālam- |
| Meaning | 'long time, eternity' |
| Basis | project |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hebrew | ʿôlām (HALOT 798) | HALOT 798 | gloss withheld |
| Ugaritic | ʿlm (DULAT 155) | DULAT 155 | gloss withheld |
| Phoenician | ʿlm; n.div. Ουλωμός (HALOT 798); lʿlm (Krahmalkov 372); ʿd ʿlm kqdm (Krahmalkov 361) | HALOT 798; Krahmalkov 372; Krahmalkov 361 | gloss withheld |
| Moabite | ʿlm (HALOT 798) | HALOT 798 |  |
| Aramaic | OArm., EgArm., Nab., Palm. ʿlm (HALOT 798) | HALOT 798 |  |
| Biblical Aramaic | ʿālmā (HALOT 798) | HALOT 798 |  |
| Syrian Aramaic | ʕālmā (SEDRA 2331) | SEDRA 2331 | gloss withheld |
| Arabic | ʿālam (HALOT 798; LGz. 61) | HALOT 798; LGz. 61 | gloss withheld |
| Geez | ʿālam (LGz. 61) | LGz. 61 | gloss withheld |
| Epigraphic South Arabian | ʿlm (HALOT 798; Sabaweb lemma 3698) | HALOT 798; Sabaweb lemma 3698 | gloss withheld |
| Punic | ʿlm, ʾwlm, ʾlm (T 245); ʿd ʿlm (Krahmalkov 361) | T 245; Krahmalkov 361 | gloss withheld |

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

## Notes

Northwest Semitic. HALOT 798: etymology uncertain; essentially equivalent to Akk. dāru 'duration, eternity'. Arb. ʿālam is of Aramaic-Syriac origin (Jeffery 208, cited CDG 61); Nöldeke 1910:37-8 holds G. ʿālam an Aramaic-Syriac loan (CDG 61). Not 2624 \*ʕlm 'hide; know'.

## 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/2963_long_time_eternity/
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.