atahus

Unknown. Possibly from Proto-Indo-European *teh₂g- and potentially prefixed with the Volscian equivalent of ad, a, ab. If accurate, this term would be a cognate with Latin tangō and Latin attingō. This theory is controversial as it is unusual for the phoneme /g/ to be fricativised and debuccalized into the phoneme /h/. Such an unusual phonological change has been explained through a potential derivation from *aktāȋus, although this perspective is not supported by most linguists. Alternatively, it has been suggested that it may be related to Proto-Indo-European *teh₂- (“to melt”) as this etymology may be more phonologically consistent. If true, the term would be cognates with Latin tābeō, Ancient Greek τήκω (tḗkō), Sanskrit तोयम् (toyam), Old English þāwian, and Russian таять (tajatʹ).

Another possibility is that it derives from Proto-Indo-European *(s)teh₂y- (“to steal”) or Proto-Indo-European *(s)teh₂ (“to steal”). If so, it would be a cognate with Ancient Greek τητάω (tētáō). Linguist Rex Wallace disputes this perspective, suggesting that it makes little semantic sense within the context of this inscription on which this term was found. Wallace argues that this inscription, the Tabula Veliterna, describes an individual performing whatever action is described by atahus with the consent of the local magistrates, and therefore it is unlikely it was describing theft. Instead, Wallace suggests it refers to the act of laying hands upon the sacred object central to the inscription.

atahus (3rd person singular future perfect)

1. The meaning of this term is uncertain. Possibilities include: would have stolen, would have robbed, would have destroyed, would have laid hands upon

atahus (past perfect)

1. The meaning of this term is uncertain. Possibilities include: stolen, robbed, destroyed, laid hands upon

• The term may be a verb form, evidenced by the Sabellic future perfect ending "-ust." Linguist Ernst Pulgram suggested that the future perfect form is more common in legal texts such as the Tabula Veliterna, the document in which this term is attested. Alternatively, it may be a participle form based on the ending "-us-."

• 2022, Blanca María Prósper, “The Tabula Veliterna: a sacred law from Central Italy”, in Rivista Italiana di Linguistica e dialettologia‎, number XXIV (quotation in English; overall work in English), pages 10-11:
• 1976, Ernst Pulgram, “The Volscian Tabula Veliterna: A New Interpretation”, in Glotta‎, volume 54, number 3/4 (quotation in English; overall work in English), →ISSN, pages 253-261:
• 1951, James W. Poultney, “Volscians and Umbrians”, in The American Journal of Philology‎, volume 72, number 2, →DOI, →ISSN, page 114:
• Rex Wallace (1985 January 1) “Volscian "sepu"/Oscan "sipus"”, in Indogermanische Forschungen, volume 90, number 123 (in English), page 39: “https://www.proquest.com/openview/3870e9c3cc6fdfb01b7f8fc5d4ced621”
• De Vaan, Michiel (2008) Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 7), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN