Persian

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Middle Persian 𐭮𐭯𐭠𐭧𐭯𐭲𐭩 (spāhbed), from Proto-Iranian *spādapati-, from Proto-Iranian *cwaHdaHpatiš (commander of the army). By surface analysis, سپاه (sepâh, army) +‎ ـبد (-bod, lord, master).

Pronunciation

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Readings
Classical reading? sipahbuḏ, sipahbaḏ
Dari reading? sipahbud, sipahbad
Iranian reading? sepahbod, sepahbad
Tajik reading? sipahbud, sipahbad

Noun

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سپهبد (sepahbod) (plural سپهبدها (sepahbod-hâ) or سپهبدان (sepahbodân))

  1. (historical) commander of army, especially in the Sassanian army
  2. sepahbod; a rank in Iranian army equivalent to lieutenant general