# \*šwʔ: 'to be bad, evil, worthless; to lie desolate'

> Proto-Semitic *šwʔ, 'to be bad, evil, worthless; to lie desolate': reflexes in 5 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>) › [š](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/shin/index.md>). Updated 2026-11-04.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*šwʔ |
| Meaning | 'to be bad, evil, worthless; to lie desolate' |
| Basis | project |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hebrew | šāwˀ/šāw (HALOT 1425 apud SEDonline 1355); šʔh (HALOT 1367) | HALOT 1425; SEDonline 1355; HALOT 1367 | gloss withheld |
| Arabic | swˀ (Lane 1457 apud SEDonline 1355) | Lane 1457; SEDonline 1355 | gloss withheld |
| Epigraphic South Arabian | Sab. s₁wˀ (SD 129 apud SEDonline 1355); Min. s₁wˀ (LM 84 apud SEDonline 1355) | SD 129; SEDonline 1355; LM 84 | gloss withheld |
| Geez | sayəˀ (LLA 394, CDG 521 apud SEDonline 1355) | LLA 394, CDG 521; SEDonline 1355 | gloss withheld |
| Pre-Islamic North Arabian | Safaitic sʾ; Hismaic sʾ (Al-Jallad 2026, 136) | Al-Jallad 2026 136 | gloss withheld |

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

## Notes

PWS \*šwˀ 'to be bad' (Kogan 2015: 122 apud SEDonline 1355). Gz. sayəˀ is sparsely attested (SEDonline 1355).

## Linked from

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

---

Page: https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/shin/3261_to_be_bad_evil_worthless_to_lie_desolate/
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.