Persian

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Etymology

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Ultimately a derivation of Proto-Iranian *Zai (to equip, to adorn), with no apparent cognates outside of Iranian. Related to زیور (zivar, ornament). Compare Baluchi [script needed] (ázit, to embellish, adorn).[1]

This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.
Particularly: “Cheung separates this root from the homophonous *Zai (to set in motion, impel) (the latter from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰey- (to drive, propel)); that said, the "equip" sense seems like it could be related to the "drive" sense, as equipping could be thought of as "driving decorative items onto oneself or something else". In addition, note strong semantic and formal similarities to Proto-Balto-Slavic *źibḗˀtei (to shine; to strike; to wear (clothes)), the latter whence Lithuanian žibė́ti (to glow, shine), Latvian zibens (lightning).”

Pronunciation

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Readings
Classical reading? zēḇīḏan
Dari reading? zēbīdan
Iranian reading? zibidan
Tajik reading? zebidan

Verb

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زیبیدَن (zibidan) (present stem زیب (zib))[2][3]

  1. (archaic) to adorn, embellish, beautify
    Synonyms: آراستَن (ârâstan), زیبا کَردَن (zibâ kardan)

Conjugation

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Derived terms

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References

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  1. ^ Cheung, Johnny (2007) “*zai²”, in Etymological Dictionary of the Iranian Verb (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 2), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 462
  2. ^ Dehkhoda, Ali-Akbar (1931–) “زیبیدن”, in Dehkhoda Dictionary Institute, editors, Dehkhoda Dictionary (in Persian), Tehran: University of Tehran Press
  3. ^ Shapira, Dan D. Y. (2009) “Irano-Arabica: contamination and popular etymology. Notes on the Persian and Arabic lexicons (with references to Aramaic, Hebrew and Turkic)”, in Христианский Восток – Новая Серия, volume 5 (XI), Moscow: Издательство Российской Академии Наук и Государственного Эрмитажа, page 165