𐭫𐭥𐭩𐭲

Middle Persian

Etymology

A pre-Middle Persian compound of the negation particle 𐭫𐭠 (nē) + the third person singular indicative of to be (copula) 𐭠𐭩𐭲𐭩 (ast), with the regular merger of the vowels to yield long ē.

The negation particle is ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ne (“not”), while the copula is from Old Persian 𐎠𐎿𐎫𐎡𐎹 (astiy), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ésti.

Verb

𐭫𐭥𐭩𐭲 • (nēst)

1. Is not
2. Does not exist

Descendants

• Persian: نیست (nist, nēst)