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Zend-A·ves·ta

(zĕn′də-vĕstə)

The Avesta.

[French, from Persian zandavastā, from transposition of Avestā-va-zend, text and commentary, from Middle Persian Abestāg u zand : abestāg, text (sense uncertain, possibly from Avestan *upastāvaka-, praise, from upastaoiti, he praises : upa-, up to, at; see upo in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + staoiti, he praises) + u, with + zand, explanation (from Avestan zainti-, knowledge, interpretation; see gnō- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).]

Zend′-A·ves·taic (-vĕs-tāĭk) adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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