# \*bVʾVš-: 'stink, be rotten; be bad'

> Proto-Semitic *bVʾVš-, 'stink, be rotten; be bad': reflexes in 15 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>) › [B](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/b/index.md>). Updated 2026-10-22.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*bVʾVš- |
| Meaning | 'stink, be rotten; be bad' |
| Basis | project |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akkadian | baʾāšu A (CAD B 4); buʾšu A (CAD B 352) | CAD B 4; CAD B 352 | gloss withheld |
| Aramaic | BʾŠ; bʔš (DNWSI 142) | DNWSI 142; Anderson–Moser 2024 root bʾš | gloss withheld |
| Geez | bəʾsa 'bad' | Anderson–Moser 2024 root bʾš |  |
| Hebrew | baʾaš; bǝʾōš (HALOT 107) | HALOT 107; Anderson–Moser 2024 root bʾš | gloss withheld |
| Gurage | Cha. Ezha Muh. Msq. Gog. Sod. basä, End. Enn. Gye. baˀasä (EDG 129 apud SEDonline 1108); Gog. Sod. bəs, bis (EDG 158 apud SEDonline 1108) | EDG 129; SEDonline 1108; EDG 158 | gloss withheld |
| East Ethiopic | Sel. bāsä (EDG 129 apud SEDonline 1108) | EDG 129; SEDonline 1108 | gloss withheld |
| Amharic | basä (AED 895 apud SEDonline 1108) | AED 895; SEDonline 1108 | gloss withheld |
| Tigrinya | bäˀasä (TED 1167 apud SEDonline 1108) | TED 1167; SEDonline 1108 | gloss withheld |
| Ugaritic | bʔš (HALOT 107 apud SEDonline 1108) | HALOT 107; SEDonline 1108 | gloss withheld |
| Tigre | bəʾəsa (LGz. 82) | LGz. 82 |  |
| Epigraphic South Arabian | Sab bʾs1; bʾs1, bʾs1t (SD 25); bʾs (Biella 34); Qat. bʔs1tm (Ricks 1982 s.v. bʔs1tm) | SD 25; Biella 34; Ricks 1982 s.v. bʔs1tm | gloss withheld |
| Syrian Aramaic | bʾeš 'be evil, displease, harm'; beʾštā 'a misfortune' (Payne Smith 34); bīš 'bad, evil' (Payne Smith 43); bīšūtā 'evil, harm; wickedness, envy' (Payne Smith 43) | Payne Smith 34; Payne Smith 43 |  |
| Eblaitic | bí-ì-šum /biʾs₁/; /buʾs₁ān/: cf. bù-sa-nu (Sanmartín GlOS 1, 105); bí-ì-šum /biʾšum/, probably (= Sum. ḫáb, VE 966 = EV 092) (Bonechi 2008, 4, 6) | Sanmartín GlOS 1, 105; VE 966; Bonechi 2008, 4, 6 | gloss withheld |
| Pre-Islamic North Arabian | Safaitic bʾs; bʾs; bʾs (D); ʾbʾs; Hismaic bʾs; Thamudic B bʾs (Al-Jallad 2026, 25) | Al-Jallad 2026 25 | gloss withheld |
| Biblical Aramaic | bʾš (HALOT 107); \*bīš (HALOT BArm. s.v. בִּאישׁ) | HALOT 107; HALOT BArm. s.v. בִּאישׁ | gloss withheld |

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

## Linked from

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

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Page: https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/b/K0035_stink_be_rotten_be_bad/
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.