волхв

Russian

Alternative forms

• волхвъ (volxv) — Pre-reform orthography (1918)

Etymology

Inherited from Old East Slavic вълхвъ (vŭlxvŭ). Related to Old Church Slavonic влъхвъ (vlŭxvŭ) and Old Church Slavonic влъснѫти (vlŭsnǫti, “to stutter”), referring to the trances the priests used in their ceremonies.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [voɫxf]

Noun

волхв • (volxv) m anim (genitive волхва́, nominative plural волхвы́, genitive plural волхво́в)

1. magus, mage
2. (paganism) a priest; a high priest.

Usage notes

In modern Rodnover or Slavic neopagan groups, "волхв" is a title for higher-ranking priests, above "жрец".

Declension

Declension of волхв (anim masc-form hard-stem accent-b) 

	singular	plural
nominative	во́лхв vólxv	волхвы́ volxvý
genitive	волхва́ volxvá	волхво́в volxvóv
dative	волхву́ volxvú	волхва́м volxvám
accusative	волхва́ volxvá	волхво́в volxvóv
instrumental	волхво́м volxvóm	волхва́ми volxvámi
prepositional	волхве́ volxvé	волхва́х volxváx

Related terms

• волше́бник (volšébnik)
• волше́бный (volšébnyj)
• волшебство́ (volšebstvó)

Descendants

• → English: volkhv
• → Finnish: velho

See also

• жрец (žrec) (pagan priest, Slavic pagan priest)
• колду́н (koldún)
• маг (mag)
• первосвященник (pervosvjaščennik) (high priest, other religions)
• фо́кусник (fókusnik)
• чароде́й (čarodéj)