Armenian

Noun

Մխիթար • ‎(Mxitʿar)

1. A male given name, Mkhitar, Mekhitar.

Declension

Derived terms

• Մխիթարյան ‎(Mxitʿaryan)

Old Armenian

Etymology

From մխիթար ‎(mxitʿar, “comfort, consolation, solace”). According to Marr, modeled on Hebrew נַחוּם ‎(Nakhum, “Nahum”, literally “consolation”).

Proper noun

Մխիթար • ‎(Mxitʿar)

1. A male given name, Mkhitar, Mekhitar.

Declension

Descendants

• Armenian: Մխիթար ‎(Mxitʿar)

References

• Ačaṙyan, Hračʿya (1946), “Մխիթար”, in Hayocʿ anjnanunneri baṙaran [Dictionary of Armenian Personal Names] (Erewani petakan hamalsaran. Gitakan ašxatutʿyunner; 25) (in Armenian), volume III, Yerevan: University Press, page 366
• Marr N. Ja. (1906), “Etimologija imeni Mxit̓ar i glagola mq̇iϑarel — utěšatʹ”, in Zapiski Vostočnovo otdelenija Imperatorskovo Russkovo arxeologičeskovo obščestva, volume 17, pages 30–31

Armenian

Noun

մխիթար • ‎(mxitʿar)

1. (rare) comfort, consolation, solace

   մխիթար լինել‎ ― mxitʿar linel ― to serve as a consolation, solace

Declension

References

• “մխիթար”, in Žamanakakicʿ hayocʿ lezvi bacʿatrakan baṙaran [Explanatory Dictionary of Contemporary Armenian] (in Armenian), Yerevan: Academy Press, 1969–1980
• Ałayan, Ēduard (1976), “մխիթար”, in Ardi hayereni bacʿatrakan baṙaran [Explanatory Dictionary of Modern Armenian] (in Armenian), Yerevan: Hayastan

Old Armenian

Etymology

Ačaṙyan accepts Marr's proposal of derivation from the phrase մի՛ խիթար ‎(mí xitʿar, “do not fear, do not worry!”), the prohibitive of խիթամ ‎(xitʿam). For the typology of such a formation compare քաջալեր ‎(kʿaǰaler, “encouraging”), from the phrase քա՛ջ լեր ‎(kʿáǰ ler, “be brave!”). Marr adduces a Georgian parallel with an identical formation: ნუგეში ‎(nugeši, “solace, consolation”), derived from the prohibitive ნუ გეშინის ‎(nu gešinis, “do not fear!”).

J̌ahukyan, having initially accepted this view (1987), later (1991) expresses doubts under the influence of a personal communication from Anahit Périkhanian, who prefers a derivation from some participial form of the Aramaic root [script needed] ‎(ḥtr, “to encourage; to make proud”); compare Classical Syriac ܡܚܬܪܐ ‎(məḥattərāʾ, “proud”). J̌ahukyan ultimately concludes, that the origin of the word is uncertain.

Noun

մխիթար • ‎(mxitʿar)

1. comfort, consolation, solace

   մխիթար լինել, տալ, մատուցանել‎ ― mxitʿar linel, tal, matucʿanel ― to comfort, to console, to solace

   մխիթար ինչ առնել մտաց‎ ― mxitʿar inčʿ aṙnel mtacʿ ― to flatter, to adulate, to wheedle, to coax, to allure

2. consoler, comforter

Declension

Adjective

մխիթար • ‎(mxitʿar)

1. consoling, consolatory

Declension

Derived terms

Descendants

• Armenian: մխիթար ‎(mxitʿar)

References

• Petrosean, H. Matatʿeay V. (1879), “մխիթար”, in Nor Baṙagirkʿ Hay-Angliarēn [New Dictionary Armenian–English], Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy, page 479b
• Awetikʿean, G.; Siwrmēlean, X.; Awgerean, M. (1837), “մխիթար”, in Nor baṙgirkʿ haykazean lezui [New Dictionary of the Armenian Language] (in Old Armenian), volume II, Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy, page 283
• Marr N. Ja. (1906), “Etimologija imeni Mxit̓ar i glagola mq̇iϑarel — utěšatʹ”, in Zapiski Vostočnovo otdelenija Imperatorskovo Russkovo arxeologičeskovo obščestva, volume 17, pages 30–31
• Ačaṙean, Hračʿeay (1977), “մխիթար”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Dictionary of Armenian Root Words] (in Armenian), volume III, 2nd edition, Yerevan: University Press, published 1926–1935, pages 328–329
• J̌ahukyan, Geworg (1987) Hayocʿ lezvi patmutʿyun; naxagrayin žamanakašrǰan [History of the Armenian language: The Pre-Literary Period] (in Armenian), Yerevan: Academy Press, page 219
• J̌ahukyan, Geworg (1991), “Stugabanutʿyunner [Etymologies]”, in Patma-banasirakan handes [Historical-Philological Journal] (in Armenian), issue 2, page 41
• J̌ahukyan, Geworg (2010), “մխիթար”, in Sargsyan, Vahan, editor, Hayeren stugabanakan baṙaran [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian), Yerevan: Asoghik, ISBN 978-9939-50-121-5, page 529