# \*mVṯVl-: 'compare' 1, 'saying, proverb' 2

> Proto-Semitic *mVṯVl-, 'compare' 1, 'saying, proverb' 2: reflexes in 17 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>) › [M](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/m/index.md>). Updated 2026-10-26.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*mVṯVl- |
| Meaning | 'compare' 1, 'saying, proverb' 2 |
| Basis | project |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aramaic | mᵉtal 1 (Klein s.v. משׁל ᴵᴵ) | Klein s.v. משׁל ᴵᴵ | gloss withheld |
| Akkadian | mašālu 'equal' | Anderson–Moser 2024 root mṯl |  |
| Geez | masala 'like' | Anderson–Moser 2024 root mṯl |  |
| Hebrew | mšl; mōšel (HALOT 647, 648); māšāl 2 (HALOT 648) | HALOT 647, 648; HALOT 648 | gloss withheld |
| Arabic | mṯl, miṯl (HALOT 647, 648); maṯal 2 (BK 2 1061; HALOT 648) | HALOT 647, 648; BK 2 1061; HALOT 648 | gloss withheld |
| Epigraphic South Arabian | mṯl (HALOT 647; Sabaweb lemma 3327) | HALOT 647; Sabaweb lemma 3327 | gloss withheld |
| Syrian Aramaic | məṯal (LGz. 366); matlā 2 (Payne Smith 317) | LGz. 366; Payne Smith 317 | gloss withheld |
| Mandaic Aramaic | mtl (LGz. 366) | LGz. 366 |  |
| Tigrinya | mäsälä (LGz. 366) | LGz. 366 | gloss withheld |
| Tigre | mäsla (LGz. 366) | LGz. 366 |  |
| Amharic | mässälä (LGz. 366) | LGz. 366 |  |
| Gafat | mässälä (LGz. 366) | LGz. 366 |  |
| Argobba | mässäla (LGz. 366) | LGz. 366 |  |
| Harari | mäsäla (LGz. 366) | LGz. 366 |  |
| Gurage | mäsälä (LGz. 366) | LGz. 366 |  |
| Phoenician | mšl 1 (Krahmalkov 317) | Krahmalkov 317 | gloss withheld |
| Ugaritic | tmṯl 1 (DULAT 859–860) | DULAT 859–860 | gloss withheld |

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

## Linked from

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

---

Page: https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/m/K0179_compare_1_saying_proverb_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.