Armenian

Pronunciation

• (Eastern Armenian) IPA^(key): [spɑs], [əsˈpɑs]

Noun

սպաս • ‎(spas)

1. (archaic) service

   ի սպաս դնել‎ ― i spas dnel ― to employ, explot

2. (archaic) Alternative form of սպասք ‎(spaskʿ)

Declension

Etymology 2

From Old Armenian սպաս ‎(spas); see below.

Pronunciation

• (Eastern Armenian) IPA^(key): [səˈpɑs]
• (Western Armenian) IPA^(key): [səˈbɑs]
• Hyphenation: սը‧պաս

Noun

սպաս • ‎(spas)

1. a soup from buttermilk and matsoni

Declension

Old Armenian

Etymology

A Middle Iranian borrowing; compare Middle Persian spʾs ‎(spās, “thanks, gratitude; service”), Manichaean Parthian ʾspʾs ‎(aspās, “service”). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- ‎(“to look”).

Thus, the original meaning of the Iranian word is “to look”, which in Old Armenian survived only in the compound յստակասպաս ‎(ystakaspas, “very bright, without obscurity”). The sense “to look” developed into “to look after” → “service”, whence սպասեմ ‎(spasem, “to serve; to wait, expect”). For the sense development compare English wait vs waiter. From the sense “service” the meaning of “dinner utensils” arose (modern Armenian սպասք ‎(spaskʿ)). From this, finally, developed the sense of a “soup” (in modern Armenian սպաս ‎(spas) is a type of a buttermilk soup).

Noun

սպաս • ‎(spas)

1. service, office, function, employment

   ի սպաս հայրենեաց‎ ― i spas hayreneacʿ ― in the public service

   սպաս ունել, տանել, հարկանել, ի սպասու կալ‎ ― spas unel, tanel, harkanel, i spasu kal ― to serve, to take service, to minister

   սպաս ունել կրակի‎ ― spas unel kraki ― to worship fire

   սպաս տանել կռոց‎ ― spas tanel kṙocʿ ― to worship idols

   լինել ի սպասու պաշտաման ուրուք‎ ― linel i spasu paštaman urukʿ ― to serve, to be in service

   հարկանել, տալ ումեք զյետին սպաս‎ ― harkanel, tal umekʿ zyetin spas ― to pay the last honours

   սպաս տանել ախտից‎ ― spas tanel axticʿ ― to obey the passions

   աստուածական մատուցանել անձին սպաս‎ ― astuacakan matucʿanel anjin spas ― to be one's own idol

   սպաս առնել‎ ― spas aṙnel ― to attend well, to care, to keep, to guard, to watch, to spy, to lie in wait for

   զբաղեալ էր ի բազում սպասու‎ ― zbałeal ēr i bazum spasu ― he was oppressed by a multitude of things, he was very busy

2. want, requisite

   սպաս արկանել, դնել‎ ― spas arkanel, dnel ― to prepare the requisites for the Mass

3. furniture, ornaments, trimmings, apparel, moveables, luggage, clothes, goods, service of plate, vessels, utensils

   սպասք եկեղեցւոյ‎ ― spaskʿ ekełecʿwoy ― church ornaments, decorations, plate, chalice, etc

4. dinner-service; meats, victuals, repast, dinner, treat, feast

   սպաս առնել‎ ― spas aṙnel ― to eat, to dine

   սպաս ուտել/կերակրիլ‎ ― spas utel/kerakril ― to regale, to entertain, to give an entertainment

5. soup
6. pomp, train, equipage
7. care, earnestness, solicitude

Declension

Derived terms

Descendants

• Armenian: սպաս ‎(spas), սպասք ‎(spaskʿ)

References

• Petrosean, H. Matatʿeay V. (1879), “սպաս”, in Nor Baṙagirkʿ Hay-Angliarēn [New Dictionary Armenian–English], Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
• Awetikʿean, G.; Siwrmēlean, X.; Awgerean, M. (1836–1837), “սպաս”, in Nor baṙgirkʿ haykazean lezui [New Dictionary of the Armenian Language] (in Old Armenian), Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
• Ačaṙean, Hračʿeay (1971–1979), “սպաս”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Dictionary of Armenian Root Words] (in Armenian), 2nd edition, Yerevan: University Press, published 1926–1935