CUMOMS

Jaredite noun

1.

Animals, listed with CURELOMS and elephants (Ether 9:19 (x2))

Etymology

Until possible language affinities for JAREDITE names can be determined, all suggestions for etymologies of JAREDITE names must remain more speculative than substantive. With that caveat, the onomasticon does offer etymologies for some JAREDITE names, especially if it is possible that some JAREDITE names were translated into NEPHITE, or were otherwise related to one or more Semitic or Mesopotamian languages.

Whatever fauna CUMOMS were, three criteria affect their identification: 1) they were especially useful to the JAREDITES; 2) they were indigenous to JAREDITE America; and, 3) it must be assumed that Joseph Smith did not have an English translation for them or he would have rendered it in English. Therefore, whatever etymology is proposed, it must meet these three criteria.

Indigenous American animals that are useful and for which Joseph Smith probably would not have had an English name include armadillo, alpaca, vicuña, chinchilla, guinea pig, llama (domesticated guanaco), tapir, agouti, capybara, iguana, gomphothere, etc. (PYH). For example, Bruce Warren observes that com is Tzotzil Maya “armadillo.”

Unlikely is the suggestion that CUMOMS are bears, based on the HEBREW, qūm, “rise up, stand up," citing the characteristics of bears.

Cf. Book of Mormon COM, CUMORAH, et al.

See also Cumoms / comoms Variant

Variants

comoms

Deseret Alphabet: 𐐗𐐊𐐣𐐉𐐣𐐞 (kʌmɒmz)

Notes

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