*law: 'if only, would that' 1, 'indeed, certainly' 2

Root

Field	Value
Reconstruction	*law
Meaning	'if only, would that' 1, 'indeed, certainly' 2
Basis	project

Language	Form	Sources	Note
Hebrew	lū 1, 2 (HALOT 521)	HALOT 521	gloss withheld
Aramaic	OArm., EgArm. lw (HALOT 521)	HALOT 521
Syrian Aramaic	ʾellū, luway (HALOT 521)	HALOT 521	gloss withheld
Phoenician	l (HALOT 521); ʾl (T 19)	HALOT 521; T 19	gloss withheld
Epigraphic South Arabian	l (HALOT 521)	HALOT 521
Arabic	lau (HALOT 521)	HALOT 521
Akkadian	lū (CAD L 224)	CAD L 224	gloss withheld
Punic	l- 1 (T 155)	T 155	gloss withheld

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

HALOT 521: basic form *luwa (Goetze). Cf. the emphatic l- (HALOT 510: Ug. l, Amor. la, Akk. lū, la, Arb. Eth. la). Not K0577 *ʾim- 'if'.

Updated 24 October 2026