# \*ktm: 'to cover, conceal' 1, 'to stain' 2

> Proto-Semitic *ktm, 'to cover, conceal' 1, 'to stain' 2: 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>) › [K](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/k/index.md>). Updated 2026-11-04.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*ktm |
| Meaning | 'to cover, conceal' 1, 'to stain' 2 |
| Basis | project |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akkadian | katāmu 1 (CAD K 298); katmu 1 (CAD K 307) | CAD K 298; CAD K 307 | gloss withheld |
| Arabic | katama 'he concealed, or suppressed, a secret' 1; katūm 'a strict concealer of secrets' 1 (Lane 2998) | Lane 2998 |  |
| Pre-Islamic North Arabian | Safaitic ktm 1; Thamudic ktm 1 (Al-Jallad 2026, 84) | Al-Jallad 2026 84 | gloss withheld |
| Hebrew | כתם nif. pt. 2 (HALOT 505) | HALOT 505 | gloss withheld |
| Eblaitic | gú-du-mu /kutumm/ 1 (Sanmartín GlOS 1, 327); ma-ga-da-ma-tum, má-da-ma-tum /maktamt, maḥtamt/ 1 (Sanmartín GlOS 1, 327) | Sanmartín GlOS 1, 327 | gloss withheld |

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

## Notes

HALOT 505 sets Arabic katama and Akkadian katāmu 'to cover, to conceal' under Hebrew ktm, ni. pt. 'to stick as a stain' (Jr 2:22), with JArm. 'stained' and Syriac 'to be dirty', and takes the root's original meaning as 'to cover with paint, to stain'. Kaufman 1974, 75 n. 225: Aramaic ktm has another meaning; BT nktmʾ 'lid' is a loan of Akkadian naktamu.

## Linked from

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

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Page: https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/k/3608_to_cover_conceal_1_to_stain_2/
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.