Editing Lepontic language (section)

====[[Prestino]] stone====
On epigraphic and archaeological grounds, this inscription is datable to about 480–450 BC.
(See image above.)

::''uvamakozis plialeθu uvltiauiopos ariuonepos sitis tetu''

Probably: "Uvamakozis dedicated (literally 'gave') to Plialethos [these] ''uvltiaviop-s'', ''arivonep-s'' [and] ''sits'' ("sacred mounds"? see note below)."<ref>Lejeune, M. "Documents gaulois et para-gaulois de Cisalpine" ''Études Celtiques'' 1970–71, volume 12, issue 2, pp. 452-462</ref><ref>Eds. Ball, M. J. and J. Fife (2002) ''The Celtic Language'' Routledge, p. 44-45</ref>

Notes:
The name ''Uvamokozis'' probably is from Proto-Indo-European *''up-mmo-g<sup>h</sup>ostis'' "having most esteemed guests", the last element developing through Proto-Celtic ''*gostis'' with further cognates in Old Church Slavonic ''gostъ'' and Gothic ''gasts''.<ref>Ranko Matasovic (2006) ''Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic'' Brill: Leiden, p. 155</ref> The apparent development of PIE *''p'' to -v- here is of particular interest for understanding the development of this sound in Celtic (lost in most other branches). 

The form ''sitis'' is probably from PIE *''sēdns'' "seats" an accusative plural; compare Old Irish ''sid'' "sacred mound" from "seat (of the gods), and Latin ''sēdēs'').<ref>Ranko Matasovic (2006) ''Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic'' Brill: Leiden, p. 326</ref><ref>de Hoz, Javier (1992) "Lepontic, Celtiberian, Gaulish, and the Archeological Evidence" Études celtiques vol. 29 pp. 223-240</ref><ref>Prosdocimi, Aldo L. (1986) "L'iscrizione leponzia di Prestino: Vent'anni dopo" Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie Vol.41, p.225</ref><ref>Markey, Thomas L. ; Mees, Bernard (2003) "Prestino, patrimony and the Plinys" ''Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie,'' Vol.53 (1), p.116</ref><ref>*Mees, Bernard (2008) "Early Celtic metre at Vergiate and Prestino" ''Historische Sprachforschung,'' Vol.121 (1), p.188-208</ref><ref>Roberti, Mario Mirabella "Un'iscrizione leponzio-ligure a Prestino di Como"''Arte Lombarda'', Vol. 11, No. 1 (Primo Semestre 1966), pp. 114-115</ref>

The final form ''tetu'' probably from PIE *''deh<sub>3</sub>-'' "give", seen also in Old Irish ''dorat'' "has given", Gaulish ''dede'' and Celt-Iberian ''tatuz'' on the first [[Botorrita plaque]].<ref>Marinis de, R. (1981) "Il periodo del Golasseca III A Lombardia" ''Studi archeologici'' (Inst. Univer. de Bergamo) 1. pp. 41-284</ref><ref>Ranko Matasovic (2006) ''Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic'' Brill: Leiden, p. 61</ref>