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

> Proto-Semitic *law, 'if only, would that' 1, 'indeed, certainly' 2: reflexes in 8 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>) › [L](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/l/index.md>). Updated 2026-10-24.

## Root

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

## Reflexes

| 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.

## Notes

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'.

## Linked from

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

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Page: https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/l/3240_if_only_would_that_1_indeed_certainly_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.