# \*nā: 'pray, please; surely' (precative particle)

> Proto-Semitic *nā, 'pray, please; surely' (precative particle): reflexes in 7 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 2026-10-31.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*nā |
| Meaning | 'pray, please; surely' (precative particle) |
| Basis | project |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hebrew | nāʾ, with imperative, cohortative and jussive (Gen 18:21; Num 12:13) (HALOT 656) | HALOT 656 | gloss withheld |
| Amorite | na: Šu-ub-na-AN (Huffmon APNM 236) | Huffmon APNM 236 | gloss withheld |
| Ugaritic | -n enclitic morpheme (DULAT 602) | DULAT 602 |  |
| Aramaic | nh (GnAp 20:25) (HALOT 656) | HALOT 656 |  |
| Amharic | nā (HALOT 656) | HALOT 656 |  |
| Akkadian | -na (HALOT 656) | HALOT 656 |  |
| Phoenician | -n, ʔpqn (DNWSI 710) | DNWSI 710 | gloss withheld |

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

## Notes

DULAT 602 compares Hb. nʔ with Ugaritic -n. Not 3482 \*hn 'behold'.

## 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/3784_pray_please_surely_precative_particle/
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.