Armenian edit

Etymology edit

Inherited from Old Armenian անասուն (anasun).

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

անասուն (anasun)

  1. animal, beast (usually a farm animal)
  2. (derogatory) brute, beast (used as a generic insult)
    արա, այ անասու՛նara, ay anasúnhey, you moron!
  3. (dialectal) child (not yet capable of speech)

Usage notes edit

When used as an insult, the -ն- (-n-) can be repeated for emphasis, e.g. այ անննասու՛ն (ay annnasún).

Declension edit

Related terms edit

Old Armenian edit

Etymology edit

Literally “not-speaking”, from ան- (an-, without, less, un-) +‎ ասուն (asun, capable of speech and reason). Typologically compare Georgian პირუტყვი (ṗiruṭq̇vi), Ancient Greek ἄλογον (álogon).

Adjective edit

անասուն (anasun)

  1. irrational; not endowed with the faculty of speaking

Declension edit

Noun edit

անասուն (anasun)

  1. animal, brute
    • 5th century, with changes and additions in later centuries, Baroyaxōs [Physiologus] Earliest recension (TR).2.1:[1]
      Սկսցուք ասել վասն առիւծուն, որ թագաւոր է ամենայն գազանաց կամ թէ ամենայն իսկ անասնոց։
      Skscʿukʿ asel vasn aṙiwcun, or tʿagawor ē amenayn gazanacʿ kam tʿē amenayn isk anasnocʿ.
      • Translation by Gohar Muradyan
        Let us begin to speak of the lion, the king of all the beasts or all the animals.

Declension edit

Derived terms edit

Descendants edit

  • Armenian: անասուն (anasun)

References edit

  1. ^ Muradyan, Gohar (2005) Physiologus: The Greek and Armenian Versions with a Study of Translation Technique (Hebrew University Armenian Studies; 6)‎[1], Leuven – Paris – Dudley: Peeters, pages 87, 141

Further reading edit

  • Petrosean, Matatʿeay (1879) “անասուն”, in Nor Baṙagirkʿ Hay-Angliarēn [New Dictionary Armenian–English], Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
  • Awetikʿean, G., Siwrmēlean, X., Awgerean, M. (1836–1837) “անասուն”, in Nor baṙgirkʿ haykazean lezui [New Dictionary of the Armenian Language] (in Old Armenian), Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy