վասն

Old Armenian

Etymology

From an Iranian word of the form *wasn. Compare Parthian 𐫇𐫘𐫗𐫀𐫅 (wsnʾd /⁠wasnāδ⁠/, “on account of, concerning, for, about”), Old Persian 𐎺𐏁𐎴𐎠 (v-š-n-a /⁠vašnā⁠/, “due to, thanks to”), Avestan 𐬭𐬈-𐬎𐬎𐬀𐬯𐬥𐬀 (re-uuasna, “desire”), and Mazanderani [script needed] (vosən, “for, on account of”).

Preposition

վասն • (vasn)

1. (with genitive) for, by reason of, for the sake of, on account of, in consideration of, considering, touching, concerning, upon the subject of; as to, as for, with respect to

   վասն սիրոյն Աստուածոյ ― vasn siroyn Astuacoy ― for the love of God

   վասն իմ ― vasn im ― for me, for my sake; as for me, for my part

   վասն թեթեւ ինչ յանցանաց ― vasn tʻetʻew inčʻ yancʻanacʻ ― for a slight fault

   վասն երկիւղի ― vasn erkiwłi ― for fear of

   վասն ընտրելոց ― vasn əntrelocʻ ― in favour of the elect

   վասն զի ― vasn zi ― for, because, wherefore

   վասն է՞ր ― vasn ē^?r ― why? for what reason?

   վասն այնր/այնորիկ, վասն այդր/այդորիկ, վասն այսր/այսորիկ ― vasn aynr/aynorik, vasn aydr/aydorik, vasn aysr/aysorik ― for that reason, therefore, to that end, on that account

   վասն ո՞յր ― vasn o^?yr ― for which? for whom?

   վասն որոյ ― vasn oroy ― why, therefore, by reason of which, consequently, wherefore

   վասն անգիտութեան ― vasn angitutʻean ― through ignorance, ignorantly

   վասն խաչի քո պատուականի ― vasn xačʻi kʻo patuakani ― by means of Thy most precious Cross, through Thy intercession

   վասն մեղացն ― vasn mełacʻn ― sin-or trespass-offering

References

• Petrosean, Matatʻeay (1879) “վասն”, in Nor Baṙagirkʻ Hay-Angliarēn [New Dictionary Armenian–English], Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
• Awetikʻean, G., Siwrmēlean, X., Awgerean, M. (1836–1837) “վասն”, in Nor baṙgirkʻ haykazean lezui [New Dictionary of the Armenian Language] (in Old Armenian), Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
• Ačaṙean, Hračʻeay (1971–1979) “վասն”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian), 2nd edition, a reprint of the original 1926–1935 seven-volume edition, Yerevan: University Press