H3772 כָּרַת kârath → Root

14 languages

Root of the כרת kârath family (6 members).

To cut, sever, or divide something, typically with a sharp instrument; frequently used in both literal and metaphorical contexts. It carries the sense of physically cutting as well as bringing something to an end; in legal or ritual expressions, it refers to the formal undertaking of a covenant, signifying the act of making or ratifying a solemn agreement, often through a ritual act of cutting (such as animals sacrificed and divided as part of covenant ceremonies).

Etymology Root כר״ת. The root meaning is 'to cut, sever.' The verb כָּרַת in its basic sense means 'to cut' or 'to cut off.' The extended sense, especially in legal or ritual contexts, arises from the practice of ratifying covenants through ceremonies involving the cutting of animals, with parties passing between the pieces, hence 'to make a covenant.'

Reflexes  · not yet grouped by proto-form

LanguageWordMeaningSegmentationRoot
Bemba kata to cut -kat-
Chichewa ḱata to cut -kat-
Kikuyu gàta to cut -kat-
Kinyarwanda gāta to cut -kat-
Kirundi gāta to cut -kat-
Lozi kata to cut -kat-
Luganda kàta to cut -kat-
Lunda kata to cut -kat-
Ndebele -kata to cut -kat-
Shona -kata to cut sharply, sever -kat-
Swahili kata to cut kat
Tonga (Zambia) kata to cut -kat-
Tsonga kata to cut -kat-
Venda -kata to cut -kat-

Family members (5)

Lexemes that inherit from this canonical via the SilexRoot family or an additional inheritance edge. Tags show the cognate-propagation status.

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