# \*nVḥVš-: 'serpent; bronze; to practice divination'

> Proto-Semitic *nVḥVš-, 'serpent; bronze; to practice divination': reflexes in 9 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>) › [N](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/n/index.md>). Updated 2026-10-22.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*nVḥVš- |
| Meaning | 'serpent; bronze; to practice divination' |
| Basis | project |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arabic | naḥisa 'to be unlucky' (BK 2, 1214) | BK 2, 1214 |  |
| Ugaritic | nḥš (DULAT 619) | DULAT 619 | gloss withheld |
| Phoenician | nḥšt (Krahmalkov 327) | Krahmalkov 327 | gloss withheld |
| Hebrew | nāḥāš (HALOT 690); nḥš pi. (HALOT 690) | HALOT 690 | gloss withheld |
| Geez | nāḥs (LGz. 395) | LGz. 395 | gloss withheld |
| Syrian Aramaic | neḥšā (HALOT 690); nḥaš (Payne Smith 335) | HALOT 690; Payne Smith 335 | gloss withheld |
| Judaic Aramaic | naḥšā (HALOT 690) | HALOT 690 | gloss withheld |
| Mandaic Aramaic | nhʾšʾ (HALOT 690) | HALOT 690 |  |
| Emar | na-aḫ-šu /naḥšu/ (Pentiuc 2001, 130) | Pentiuc 2001 130 | gloss withheld |

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

## Notes

Assimilation of vowels. Cf. Arabic ḥanaš- 'reptile, snake'.

## Linked from

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

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Page: https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/n/2745_serpent_bronze_to_practice_divination/
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.