Persian edit

Etymology edit

From Middle Persian [script needed] (zynhʾl /⁠zēnhār⁠/), originally an imperative command of 𐭬𐭭 (MN /⁠az⁠/, from, of, modern از) + 𐭦𐭭𐭤 (ZNH /⁠ēn⁠/, this, modern این) + Proto-Iranian *hār- (to guard; to observe, from Proto-Indo-European *ser- (to warn)): "guard against this; beware of this", but used as a noun already in Middle Persian with the current meanings.

Pronunciation edit

 

Readings
Classical reading? zinhār
Dari reading? zinhār
Iranian reading? zenhâr
Tajik reading? zinhor

Interjection edit

زنهار (zenhâr) (literary)

  1. beware
  2. be careful; take care
    • c. 1390, Shams-ud-Dīn Muḥammad Ḥāfiẓ, “Ghazal 11”, in دیوان حافظ [The Divān of Ḥāfiẓ]‎[1]:
      ای باد اگر به گلشن احباب بگذری
      زنهار عرضه ده بر جانان پیام ما
      ay bâd agar ba gulšan-i ahbâb bigzarî
      zinhâr arza dih bar-i jânân payâm-i mâ
      O breeze, should you pass by the rose-field of the lovers,
      Take care to give my message to the bosom of my love.
      (Classical Persian transliteration)

Noun edit

زنهار (zenhâr) (literary)

  1. caution
  2. security; refuge; shelter (from something unpleasant)
    Synonyms: امان (amân), پناه (panâh)
  3. covenant
    Synonym: عهد ('ahd)

Descendants edit

  • Ottoman Turkish: زنهار (zinhâr)
    • Turkish: zinhar (absolutely, exactly)