Middle Persian

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Etymology

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A pre-Middle Persian compound of the negation particle 𐭫𐭠 (nē) + the third person singular indicative of to be (copula) 𐭠𐭩𐭲𐭩 (ast), with the regular merger of the vowels to yield long ē.

The negation particle is ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ne (not), while the copula is from Old Persian 𐎠𐎿𐎫𐎡𐎹 (astiy), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ésti.

Verb

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𐭫𐭥𐭩𐭲 (nēst)

  1. Is not
  2. Does not exist

Descendants

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  • Persian: نیست (nist, nēst)