sḫm
Egyptian
Pronunciation
- (noun): (reconstructed) IPA(key): /ˈsaːχam/ → /ˈsaːχam/ → /ˈsaːχəm/ → /ˈsoːχəm/
- (modern Egyptological) IPA(key): /sɛxɛm/
- Conventional anglicization: sekhem
Verb
3-lit.
- (intransitive) to be(come) physically powerful or vigorous [since the Pyramid Texts]
- (intransitive) to be(come) powerful, capable (+ m: through the power of (magic, the Eye of Horus, food, etc.); + mm: among (the gods); + ḫr: before (a god); + ḫnt: at the head of (people); + m ḫt or m sꜣ: in pursuit of (enemies)) [since the Pyramid Texts]
- (intransitive, of poison, magic, names, etc.) to be(come) potent, effective
- (intransitive, of a quality such as might) to be(come) strong, intense, great
- (intransitive, with m or (since the 18th Dynasty) r or (rarely) transitive) to have or take control of, to have power over (enemies, people, gods, places, oneself, etc.) [since the Pyramid Texts]
- c. 1900 BCE, The Instructions of Kagemni (pPrisse/pBN 183) lines 1.10–1.11:
![M17 [i] i](../I/hiero_M17.png.webp)
![D21 [r] r](../I/hiero_D21.png.webp)

![G43 [w] w](../I/hiero_G43.png.webp)
![G43 [w] w](../I/hiero_G43.png.webp)
![G37 [nDs] nDs](../I/hiero_G37.png.webp)
![G17 [m] m](../I/hiero_G17.png.webp)
![S29 [s] s](../I/hiero_S29.png.webp)
![D21 [r] r](../I/hiero_D21.png.webp)
![Aa1 [x] x](../I/hiero_Aa1.png.webp)

![N35 [n] n](../I/hiero_N35.png.webp)



![S42 [sxm] sxm](../I/hiero_S42.png.webp)
![G17 [m] m](../I/hiero_G17.png.webp)

![N35 [n] n](../I/hiero_N35.png.webp)
![S43 [md] md](../I/hiero_S43.png.webp)
![D46 [d] d](../I/hiero_D46.png.webp)
![X1 [t] t](../I/hiero_X1.png.webp)

![V30 [nb] nb](../I/hiero_V30.png.webp)
![X1 [t] t](../I/hiero_X1.png.webp)
![M17 [i] i](../I/hiero_M17.png.webp)
![G17 [m] m](../I/hiero_G17.png.webp)
![I9 [f] f](../I/hiero_I9.png.webp)
- jr šww m srḫ n t nj sḫm.n mdt nbt jm.f
- As for one who is free of notoriety regarding bread, no word can take control of him.
- (intransitive, with m or (rarely) transitive) to have the use of, to be able to make use of (one’s limbs)
- (intransitive, with m) to take possession of (a thing)
- (intransitive, with m, of knives, lions, snakes, poison, magic, etc.) to have power to freely harm (someone), to have injurious power over [chiefly Late Period]
- (intransitive, with m or r, of fire) to burn, to consume (someone) [Greco-Roman Period]
- (intransitive, with m, Late Egyptian, of sleep) to overpower, to overtake (the body)
- (intransitive, with m and infinitive) to be(come) capable (of doing something), empowered or entitled (to do something)
- (intransitive, of the heart/mind) to be(come) bold, daring, courageous, spirited
- (intransitive, of the heart/mind) to be(come) overbold, impudent, audacious
- (intransitive, of the face) The meaning of this term is uncertain. Possibilities include:
Inflection
| infinitival forms | imperative | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| infinitive | negatival complement | complementary infinitive1 | singular | plural |
| Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value) |
Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value) |
sḫmt |
Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value) |
Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value) |
| ‘pseudoverbal’ forms | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| stative stem | periphrastic imperfective2 | periphrastic prospective2 | |
| Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value) |
ḥr sḫm |
m sḫm |
r sḫm |
| suffix conjugation | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| aspect / mood | active | contingent | |
| aspect / mood | active | ||
| perfect | sḫm.n |
consecutive | sḫm.jn |
| terminative | sḫmt | ||
| perfective3 | Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value) |
obligative1 | sḫm.ḫr |
| imperfective | Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value) | ||
| prospective3 | Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value) |
potentialis1 | sḫm.kꜣ |
| subjunctive | Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value) | ||
| verbal adjectives | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| aspect / mood | relative (incl. nominal / emphatic) forms | participles | |
| active | active | passive | |
| perfect | sḫm.n |
— | — |
| perfective | Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value) |
Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value) |
Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value) |
| imperfective | Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value) |
Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value) |
Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value) |
| prospective | Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value) |
sḫmtj4, sḫmt4 | |
| |||
Alternative forms
Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value)
Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value)
Derived terms
- pꜣ-sḫmtj
- sḫm-jb-pr.n-mꜣꜥt
- sḫm-pḥtj-ḏsr-ḫꜥw
- sḫm-ẖt
- sḫmt
- sḫmtj
Noun
m
- power, capability, especially capability to overpower [since the Pyramid Texts]
- Synonym: sḫmt
- violence
Usage notes
Often found in parallel with bꜣ and kꜣ as a quality that is ‘with’, ‘by’, ‘behind’ someone, etc. May also be found in parallel with words such as wsr and qn.
Inflection
| singular | Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value) |
|---|---|
| dual | sḫmwj |
| plural | sḫmw |
Alternative forms
See under the verb above.
Noun
m
- being of divine power, Power; chiefly used as an epithet for various gods, exceptionally also for kings [since the Pyramid Texts]
- c. 1550 BCE – 1295 BCE, Great Hymn to Osiris (Stela of Amenmose, Louvre C 286) lines 7–8:

![G25 [Ax] Ax](../I/hiero_G25.png.webp)
![Aa1 [x] x](../I/hiero_Aa1.png.webp)

![W17 [xnt] xnt](../I/hiero_W17.png.webp)


![V29 [wAH] wAH](../I/hiero_V29.png.webp)

![X1 [t] t](../I/hiero_X1.png.webp)

![O34 [z] z](../I/hiero_O34.png.webp)
![Y5 [mn] mn](../I/hiero_Y5.png.webp)
![N35 [n] n](../I/hiero_N35.png.webp)
![S38 [HqA] HqA](../I/hiero_S38.png.webp)
![X1 [t] t](../I/hiero_X1.png.webp)

![S42 [sxm] sxm](../I/hiero_S42.png.webp)


![F35 [nfr] nfr](../I/hiero_F35.png.webp)
![N35 [n] n](../I/hiero_N35.png.webp)

![X1 [t] t](../I/hiero_X1.png.webp)


![R8 [nTr] nTr](../I/hiero_R8.png.webp)




![D21 [r] r](../I/hiero_D21.png.webp)
![D21 [r] r](../I/hiero_D21.png.webp)

![N35 [n] n](../I/hiero_N35.png.webp)
![I9 [f] f](../I/hiero_I9.png.webp)
![D21 [r] r](../I/hiero_D21.png.webp)
![D36 [a] a](../I/hiero_D36.png.webp)
![G54 [snD] snD](../I/hiero_G54.png.webp)
![I9 [f] f](../I/hiero_I9.png.webp)
![G17 [m] m](../I/hiero_G17.png.webp)
![N16 [tA] tA](../I/hiero_N16.png.webp)
![N16 [tA] tA](../I/hiero_N16.png.webp)
![N16 [tA] tA](../I/hiero_N16.png.webp)
![V30 [nb] nb](../I/hiero_V30.png.webp)
![N35 [n] n](../I/hiero_N35.png.webp)

![D21 [r] r](../I/hiero_D21.png.webp)
![X1 [t] t](../I/hiero_X1.png.webp)
![D46 [d] d](../I/hiero_D46.png.webp)
![G17 [m] m](../I/hiero_G17.png.webp)


![O34 [z] z](../I/hiero_O34.png.webp)
![N35 [n] n](../I/hiero_N35.png.webp)
![D21 [r] r](../I/hiero_D21.png.webp)
![N35 [n] n](../I/hiero_N35.png.webp)
![I9 [f] f](../I/hiero_I9.png.webp)
![D21 [r] r](../I/hiero_D21.png.webp)
![F4 [HAt] HAt](../I/hiero_F4.png.webp)

- sꜥḥ ꜣḫ ḫnt sꜥḥw wꜣḥ jꜣwt smn ḥqꜣt sḫm nfr n(j) psḏt jmꜣ ḥr mrr mꜣ n.f rdj snḏ.f m tꜣw nb(w) n mr(w)t dm.sn rn.f r ḥꜣt […]
- Effective dignitary, foremost of dignitaries, enduring of office, established of reign, the fair power of the Ennead, gracious of face, the sight of whom is beloved, the awe of whom is set in all lands in order that they pronounce his name first, […]
- (with following genitive, or else plural) earthly image or incarnation (of a god), cult image, including statues, paintings, standards, people, etc. [since the Middle Kingdom]
- (in the plural) gods in general [Greco-Roman Period]
Inflection
| singular | Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value) |
|---|---|
| dual | sḫmwj |
| plural | sḫmw |
Alternative forms
Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value)
Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value)
Descendants
- Bohairic Coptic: ϣⲓϣⲉⲙ (šišem)
- Lycopolitan Coptic: ϣⲓⲥⲙⲉ (šisme)
Inflection
| singular | Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value) |
|---|---|
| dual | sḫmwj |
| plural | sḫmw |
Alternative forms
Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value)
Noun
m
Usage notes
Inflection
| singular | Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value) |
|---|---|
| dual | sḫmwj |
| plural | sḫmw |
Alternative forms
Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value)
Derived terms
- ḥwt-sḫm
References
- “sḫm (lemma ID 851679)”, in Thesaurus Linguae Aegyptiae, Corpus issue 17, Web app version 2.01, Tonio Sebastian Richter & Daniel A. Werning by order of the Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften and Hans-Werner Fischer-Elfert & Peter Dils by order of the Sächsische Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Leipzig, 2004–15 December 2022
- “sḫm (lemma ID 142180)”, in Thesaurus Linguae Aegyptiae, Corpus issue 17, Web app version 2.01, Tonio Sebastian Richter & Daniel A. Werning by order of the Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften and Hans-Werner Fischer-Elfert & Peter Dils by order of the Sächsische Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Leipzig, 2004–15 December 2022
- “sḫm (lemma ID 142140)”, in Thesaurus Linguae Aegyptiae, Corpus issue 17, Web app version 2.01, Tonio Sebastian Richter & Daniel A. Werning by order of the Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften and Hans-Werner Fischer-Elfert & Peter Dils by order of the Sächsische Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Leipzig, 2004–15 December 2022
- “sḫm.w (lemma ID 142400)”, in Thesaurus Linguae Aegyptiae, Corpus issue 17, Web app version 2.01, Tonio Sebastian Richter & Daniel A. Werning by order of the Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften and Hans-Werner Fischer-Elfert & Peter Dils by order of the Sächsische Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Leipzig, 2004–15 December 2022
- “sḫm (lemma ID 142130)”, in Thesaurus Linguae Aegyptiae, Corpus issue 17, Web app version 2.01, Tonio Sebastian Richter & Daniel A. Werning by order of the Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften and Hans-Werner Fischer-Elfert & Peter Dils by order of the Sächsische Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Leipzig, 2004–15 December 2022
- “sḫm (lemma ID 142190)”, in Thesaurus Linguae Aegyptiae, Corpus issue 17, Web app version 2.01, Tonio Sebastian Richter & Daniel A. Werning by order of the Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften and Hans-Werner Fischer-Elfert & Peter Dils by order of the Sächsische Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Leipzig, 2004–15 December 2022
- “sḫm (lemma ID 142150)”, in Thesaurus Linguae Aegyptiae, Corpus issue 17, Web app version 2.01, Tonio Sebastian Richter & Daniel A. Werning by order of the Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften and Hans-Werner Fischer-Elfert & Peter Dils by order of the Sächsische Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Leipzig, 2004–15 December 2022
- Erman, Adolf; Grapow, Hermann (1930) Wörterbuch der ägyptischen Sprache, volume 4, Berlin: Akademie-Verlag, →ISBN, page 243.3–249.16, 251.18–252.7
- Faulkner, Raymond (1962) A Concise Dictionary of Middle Egyptian, Oxford: Griffith Institute, →ISBN, page 241
- James P[eter] Allen (2010) Middle Egyptian: An Introduction to the Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs, 2nd edition, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 377.