Etymological Dictionary of Etruscan Words

This Dictionary contains at least 1430 entries, each of which also concerns variants and derivatives, including the very numerous family names and cognomina which significantly enrich the knowledge of the Etruscan lexicon. The text is accompanied by 50 Figures: 28 of them propose new readings of sequences contained in the Liber linteus (16) and in the Tabula Capuana (12). The new readings proposed by the Author are based first of all on epigraphical verifications. The above-mentioned texts they can be fully interpreted with the Dictionary.

The simplified syntax and the verbal conjugation extremely reduced are clear evidence that Etruscan is not an Indo-European language, but according to the Author the Etruscans acquired roots or lexemes from the Indo-European languages ​​of the peoples with whom they lived before settling in Italy and then from the Italic ones. The Author attributes to Etruscan the structure of a pidgin language or 'lingua franca' like those spoken by peoples practising nomadism. This Dictionary is based on etymological comparison with ancient Indo-European languages. The greatest number of decisive matches is obtained with Proto-Germanic, but the Greek and Italic dialects also provide useful comparisons for the interpretation of a fair number of words.

The names of the characters engraved on the Etruscan mirrors and gems, usually considered mere Greek borrowings, actually have Etruscan meanings and form allegories rather than mythological scenes