Armenian

Alternative forms

Noun

մարգարիտ • ‎(margarit)

1. pearl

Declension

References

• Ačaṙean, Hračʿeay (1977), “մարգարիտ”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Dictionary of Armenian Root Words] (in Armenian), volume III, 2nd edition, Yerevan: University Press, published 1926–1935, pages 277–278

Old Armenian

Etymology

Ačaṙyan derives from Ancient Greek μαργαρίτης ‎(margarítēs) but because of the very early attestation of the word in Armenian, when Greek borrowings were not happening yet, he assumes a mediation by Latin margarīta, margarītum.

However, nowadays the Greek word is considered an Iranian borrowing and *margārīt has been reconstructed in Parthian. See Persian مروارید ‎(marvârid, morvârid) for details. If this is correct, Armenian մարգարիտ ‎(margarit) should be considered a Parthian borrowing.

Noun

մարգարիտ • ‎(margarit)

1. pearl
2. (post-classical, botany) daisy
3. (post-classical, chemistry) margarine

Declension

Derived terms

Descendants

• Armenian: մարգարիտ ‎(margarit), մարգրիտ ‎(margrit)
  • Kurdish: مگریت ‎(magrit)
• Old Georgian: მარგარიტი ‎(margariṭi), მარგალიტი ‎(margaliṭi) (possibly)
  • Georgian: მარგალიტი ‎(margaliṭi)
    • Avar: маргъал ‎(marġal)
    • Bats: მარგალიტ ‎(margaliṭ), მარგლიტ ‎(margliṭ)

References

• Petrosean, H. Matatʿeay V. (1879), “մարգարիտ”, in Nor Baṙagirkʿ Hay-Angliarēn [New Dictionary Armenian–English], Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
• Awetikʿean, G.; Siwrmēlean, X.; Awgerean, M. (1836–1837), “մարգարիտ”, in Nor baṙgirkʿ haykazean lezui [New Dictionary of the Armenian Language] (in Old Armenian), Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
• Ačaṙean, Hračʿeay (1977), “մարգարիտ”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Dictionary of Armenian Root Words] (in Armenian), volume III, 2nd edition, Yerevan: University Press, published 1926–1935, pages 277–278