-ավուն

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Armenian

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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The origin is unknown. Confined to Eastern dialects, with the earliest attestation in the 17th century.[1] Ačaṙyan remarks that derivation from Old Armenian -ագոյն (-agoyn) (of Iranian origin) is impossible, because no գ (g)վ (v) sound change is known in the dialects. But perhaps that change occurred within an Iranian language, where such a change is known, and thence was borrowed into Armenian.

Compare also Central Kurdish -ئەوِن (-ewin), forming adjectives from nouns.

Pronunciation

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Suffix

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-ավուն (-avun)

  1. (dialectal) forming comparatives of adjectives
    էս տղեն էն տղից մենձավուն աēs tġen ēn tġicʻ menjavun athis boy is older than that boy
  2. (appended to adjectives) somewhat, -ish
    դեղինdeġinyellow
    դեղնավունdeġnavunyellowish
    քաղցրkʻaġcʻrsweet
    քաղցրավունkʻaġcʻravunsweetish

Usage notes

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Especially common with color names.

Derived terms

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References

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  1. ^ Ačaṙyan, Hračʻya (1952) Liakatar kʻerakanutʻyun hayocʻ lezvi hamematutʻyamb 562 lezuneri [Complete Grammar of the Armenian Language Compared to 562 Languages] (in Armenian), volume I, Yerevan: Academy Press, page 71