-ան

See also: -ան- and ան-

Armenian

Etymology

From Middle Armenian -ան (-an), from Old Armenian -ան (-an).

Pronunciation

• (Eastern Armenian, standard) IPA^(key): [-ɑn]
• (Western Armenian, standard) IPA^(key): [-ɑn]

Suffix

-ան • (-an)

1. forming nouns and adjectives
3. instrument-suffix

   խցան ― xcʻan ― cork

Derived terms

Armenian terms suffixed with -ան

Middle Armenian

Etymology

From Old Armenian -ան (-an).

Suffix

-ան • (-an)

1. forming nouns and adjectives

Derived terms

Category Middle Armenian terms suffixed with -ան not found

Descendants

• Armenian: -ան (-an)

Old Armenian

Etymology 1

Probably a contamination of the Iranian suffix *-ān(a)- with the Proto-Indo-European *-nós, *-nā- suffix added to the stem vowel *-ā/ə-.

Suffix

-ան • (-an)

1. forming nouns and adjectives
3. instrument-suffix

   տոփան ― topʻan ― rammer

Derived terms

Old Armenian terms suffixed with -ան

Descendants

• Middle Armenian: -ան (-an)
  • Armenian: -ան (-an)

References

• J̌ahukyan, Geworg (1998) “-ան”, in Hin hayereni verǰacancʻneri cagumə [The Origin of Old Armenian Suffixes] (Hayocʻ lezvi hamematakan kʻerakanutʻyan harcʻer; 2) (in Armenian), Yerevan: Anania Širakacʻi, pages 5–48

Etymology 2

From the Middle Iranian pluralization suffix *-ān, found in Parthian, Middle Persian and Modern Persian. Compare also -անի (-ani).

Suffix

-ան • (-an)

2. collective suffix

   իշան ― išan ― donkeys

   ձիան ― jian ― horses

Derived terms

Old Armenian terms suffixed with -ան (collective)

Descendants

• Armenian: -անք (-ankʻ)

References

• J̌ahukyan, Geworg (1998) “-ան”, in Hin hayereni verǰacancʻneri cagumə [The Origin of Old Armenian Suffixes] (Hayocʻ lezvi hamematakan kʻerakanutʻyan harcʻer; 2) (in Armenian), Yerevan: Anania Širakacʻi, pages 5–48

Etymology 3

From Proto-Indo-European *-n̥to, the third-person plural past indicative middle ending of verbs. The -ա- (-a-) of this form is thought to have spread throughout other persons and numbers of the aorist mediopassive indicative paradigm.

Suffix

-ան • (-an)

2. third-person plural aorist mediopassive indicative ending of verbs

   նստ-ան ― nst-an ― they sat

   հայեց-ան ― hayecʻ-an ― they looked

See also

• -ւ (-w)

References

• Fortson, Benjamin W. (2010) Indo-European Language and Culture: An Introduction, second edition, Oxford: Blackwell, page 392