minnaris

Uncertain. Perhaps from Proto-Italic *mēns-en-, an m-enlargement of a Proto-Italic *mēns, from Proto-Indo-European *mḗh₁n̥s, perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *meh₁-. It may also have derived from *minnā-, an *ā-stem term deriving from Proto-Italic *mēnā-, from Proto-Italic *meh₁-n-h₂. Alternatively, *minnā- may derive from Proto-Italic *mēnnā-, itself possibly from Proto-Italic *mēn-s-(n)-a, from Proto-Italic *meh₁n-s-(n)-eh₂. The second possibility is disputed as it would require the assimilation of the consonant clusters *-n-s-(-n-) and *-s-n-, which are typically preserved in Oscan. If the derivation from *minnā-, from Proto-Italic *mēnā-, from Proto-Italic *meh₁-n-h₂ is accepted, then the term is comparable to Latin Mena and Ancient Greek μήν (mḗn).

The term may contain an "*-āli-" suffix, which appears in Latin terms for festivals such as Sāturnālia or Vulcānālia. In Latin, "*-āli-" typically becomes "*-āri-" when placed after an l-stem term; however, no apparent "l" existed in any etymon of the term. Thus, an expected from "*minnālis" could be reconstructed. However, other terms in Oscan show unexpected "*-āri-," such as dekkviarim. Moreover, Latin terms such as lētālis or glaciālis show "*-āli-" where "*-āri-" would be expected. The linguist Paolo Poccetti concludes that "*-āli-" was actually used to dissimilate terms with an /r/ sound, citing the example of Vestinian "flusare."

Perhaps pronounced with a short "ĭ" vowel, presumably due to the combination of a long vowel and a geminate consonant, which shortens the vowel in other Italic languages. Although it is not attested for Oscan, it appears in Latin terms such as cuppa and cūpa or littera and lītera. The term is also orthographically spelt with a single "i," as opposed to the "ii" more often used to represent long "i" vowels in Oscan writing.

minnaris (dative/ablative plural)

1. The meaning of this term is uncertain. Possibilities include:
   1. lunar, of or pertaining to the moon
   2. monthly
   3. lunar festival

Based on its etymology and its Italic cognates, the term could mean something akin to "lunar" or "monthly." However, the term is featured in the noun phrase "fisiais minnaris," with "fisiais" representing specific dates of festivals in other Oscan texts. The accompanying adjective functions to further specify which festival. Thus, it is possible the term refers to a kind of lunar holiday.

• Indogermanische Gesellschaft Fachtagung (2017) Etymology and the European Lexicon: Proceedings of the 14th Fachtagung Der Indogermanischen Gesellschaft, 17-22 September 2012, Copenhagen‎^[1], Frederiksberg Bogtrykkeri, →ISBN