մխիթար

From Old Armenian մխիթար (mxitʻar).

• (Eastern Armenian, standard) IPA^(key): [məχitʰɑ́ɾ]
• (Western Armenian, standard) IPA^(key): [məχitʰɑ́ɾ]
• Hyphenation: մը‧խի‧թար

մխիթար • (mxitʻar)

1. (rare) comfort, consolation, solace

   Synonyms: մխիթարություն (mxitʻarutʻyun), սփոփանք (spʻopʻankʻ)

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

• “մխիթար”, in Žamanakakicʻ hayocʻ lezvi bacʻatrakan baṙaran [Explanatory Dictionary of Contemporary Armenian] (in Armenian), Yerevan: Academy Press, 1969–1980
• Aġayan, Ēduard (1976) “մխիթար”, in Ardi hayereni bacʻatrakan baṙaran [Explanatory Dictionary of Contemporary Armenian] (in Armenian), Yerevan: Hayastan

According to Marr and Ačaṙean, a univerbation of մի՛ (mí, “do not!”) +‎ խիթար (xitʻar, “fear, worry”), the prohibitive of խիթամ (xitʻam). For the typology of such a formation compare քաջալեր (kʻaǰaler, “encouraging”), from the phrase քա՛ջ լեր (kʻáǰ 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.

մխիթար • (mxitʻar)

1. comfort, consolation, solace

   մխիթար լինել, տալ, մատուցանել ― mxitʻar linel, tal, matucʻanel ― to comfort, to console, to solace

   մխիթար ինչ առնել մտաց ― mxitʻar inčʻ aṙnel mtacʻ ― to flatter, to adulate, to wheedle, to coax, to allure

2. consoler, comforter

մխիթար • (mxitʻar)

1. consoling, consolatory

• Armenian: մխիթար (mxitʻar)

• Petrosean, Matatʻeay (1879) “մխիթար”, in Nor Baṙagirkʻ Hay-Angliarēn [New Dictionary Armenian–English], Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy, page 479b
• Awetikʻean, G., Siwrmēlean, X., Awgerean, M. (1837) “մխիթար”, in Nor baṙgirkʻ haykazean lezui [New Dictionary of the Armenian Language] (in Old Armenian), volume II, Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy, page 283
• Marr, N. (1907) “Этимология имени Мхит̓ар и глагола mq̇iϑarel — утешать [The etymology of the name Mxitʿar and the verb mq̇iϑarel – to console]”, in Записки Восточного отделения Русского археологического общества‎ (in Russian), volume 19 (1906), pages 30–31
• Ačaṙean, Hračʻeay (1977) “մխիթար”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian), 2nd edition, a reprint of the original 1926–1935 seven-volume edition, volume III, Yerevan: University Press, pages 328–329
• J̌ahukyan, Geworg (1987) Hayocʻ lezvi patmutʻyun; naxagrayin žamanakašrǰan [History of the Armenian language: The Pre-Literary Period]‎ (in Armenian), Yerevan: Academy Press, page 219
• J̌ahukyan, Geworg (1991) “Stugabanutʻyunner [Etymologies]”, in Patma-banasirakan handes [Historical-Philological Journal]‎ (in Armenian), number 2, Yerevan: Academy Press, page 41
• J̌ahukyan, Geworg (2010) “մխիթար”, in Vahan Sargsyan, editor, Hayeren stugabanakan baṙaran [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian), Yerevan: Asoghik, page 529