-ան
See also: -ան- and ան-
Armenian
Etymology
From Middle Armenian -ան (-an), from Old Armenian -ան (-an).
Pronunciation
- (Eastern Armenian, standard) IPA(key): [ɑn]
- (Western Armenian, standard) IPA(key): [ɑn]
Suffix
-ան • (-an)
- forming nouns and adjectives
- instrument-suffix
- խցան ― xcʿan ― cork
Derived terms
Armenian terms suffixed with -ան
Middle Armenian
Etymology
From Old Armenian -ան (-an).
Suffix
-ան • (-an)
- forming nouns and adjectives
Derived terms
Category Middle Armenian terms suffixed with -ան not found
Descendants
- Armenian: -ան (-an)
Old Armenian
Etymology 1
Probably a contamination of the Iranian suffix *-ān(a)- with the Proto-Indo-European *-nós, *-nā- suffix added to the stem vowel *-ā/ə-.
Suffix
-ան • (-an)
- forming nouns and adjectives
- instrument-suffix
- տոփան ― topʿan ― rammer
Derived terms
Old Armenian terms suffixed with -ան
Descendants
- Middle Armenian: -ան (-an)
- Armenian: -ան (-an)
References
- J̌ahukyan, Geworg (1998), “-ան”, in Hin hayereni verǰacancʿneri cagumə [The Origin of Old Armenian Suffixes] (Hayocʿ lezvi hamematakan kʿerakanutʿyan harcʿer; 2) (in Armenian), Yerevan: Anania Širakacʿi, pages 5–48
Etymology 2
From the Middle Iranian pluralization suffix *-ān, found in Parthian, Middle Persian and Modern Persian. Compare also -անի (-ani).
Suffix
-ան • (-an)
- collective suffix
- իշան ― išan ― donkeys
- ձիան ― jian ― horses
Derived terms
Old Armenian terms suffixed with -ան (collective)
References
- J̌ahukyan, Geworg (1998), “-ան”, in Hin hayereni verǰacancʿneri cagumə [The Origin of Old Armenian Suffixes] (Hayocʿ lezvi hamematakan kʿerakanutʿyan harcʿer; 2) (in Armenian), Yerevan: Anania Širakacʿi, pages 5–48
Etymology 3
From Proto-Indo-European *-n̥to, the third-person plural past indicative middle ending of verbs. The -ա- (-a-) of this form is thought to have spread throughout other persons and numbers of the aorist mediopassive indicative paradigm.
Suffix
-ան • (-an)
- third-person plural aorist mediopassive indicative ending of verbs
- նստ-ան ― nst-an ― they sat
- հայեց-ան ― hayecʿ-an ― they looked
See also
- -ւ (-w)
References
- Fortson, Benjamin W. (2010) Indo-European Language and Culture: An Introduction, second edition, Oxford: Blackwell, page 392