Etymology
The origin is uncertain.
Usually treated as an onomatopoeia, with similar formations in Indo-European and non-Indo-European languages, e.g. Ancient Greek κόραξ (kórax), Latin corvus, Old High German hraban, Turkish karga, Arabic غُرَاب (ḡurāb), Hebrew עוֹרֵב (ʿōrēḇ). But more likely a Semitic borrowing, ultimately from Proto-Semitic *ḡurayb- (“raven, crow”), whence especially Arabic غُرَاب (ḡurāb), plural أَغْرُب (ʔaḡrub), Shehri ʾaġəréb, Mehri haġaráyb, yəġəráyb, yəġərēb, Soqotri ʾáʿrəb.
Noun
ագռաւ • (agṙaw)
- crow, Corvus corone; raven, Corvus corax
5th century, with changes and additions in later centuries,
Baroyaxōs [Physiologus] Earliest recension (
TR).31.2–3:
[1][2]- Բարոյախաւսն ասէ զագռաւէ, եթէ միայնայր է։ Եւ թէ մեռանի վարուժանն, էգն յայլ վարուժան չհպի։
- Baroyaxawsn asē zagṙawē, etʻē miaynayr ē. Ew tʻē meṙani varužann, ēgn yayl varužan čʻhpi.
- Translation by Gohar Muradyan
- Physiologus says about the crow that it is monogamous, and if the male dies, the female does not touch other male.
6th century,
Philo of Alexandria,
Yałags ban unel ew anasun kendaneacʻd, aṙ Liwsimakʻos [De Animalibus] :
[3][4]- Քանզի կեռնեխք՝ եւ ագռաւք եւ պապկայք, եւ որ միանգամ հոմանմանք, զի թէպէտ եւ զանազանագոյն բարբառեսցին, յօդաւոր ո՛չ երբէք եւ ո՛չ իւիք ձայն կարասցեն հանել։
- Kʻanzi keṙnexkʻ, ew agṙawkʻ ew papkaykʻ, ew or miangam homanmankʻ, zi tʻēpēt ew zanazanagoyn barbaṙescʻin, yōdawor óčʻ erbēkʻ ew óčʻ iwikʻ jayn karascʻen hanel.
- Translation by Abraham Terian
- Although blackbirds, crows, parrots, and all the like can produce different kinds of utterances, they cannot produce an articulated voice in any manner whatever.
- (rare) owl
- Synonym: բու (bu)
- (astronomy) Corvus
Usage notes
- Old Armenian did not distinguish between "crow" and "raven".
- In the Bible, translates Ancient Greek κόραξ (kórax) and κορώνη (korṓnē).
- In the Physiologus, translates Ancient Greek κορώνη (korṓnē).
Declension
More information singular, plural ...
|
singular |
|
plural |
| nominative |
ագռաւ (agṙaw) |
ագռաւք (agṙawkʻ) |
| genitive |
ագռաւու (agṙawu) |
ագռաւուց (agṙawucʻ) |
| dative |
ագռաւու (agṙawu) |
ագռաւուց (agṙawucʻ) |
| accusative |
ագռաւ (agṙaw) |
ագռաւս (agṙaws) |
| ablative |
ագռաւէ (agṙawē) |
ագռաւուց (agṙawucʻ) |
| instrumental |
ագռաւու (agṙawu) |
ագռաւուք (agṙawukʻ) |
| locative |
ագռաւու (agṙawu) |
ագռաւս (agṙaws) |
Close
More information singular, plural ...
|
singular |
|
plural |
| nominative |
ագռաւ (agṙaw) |
ագռաւք (agṙawkʻ) |
| genitive |
ագռաւոյ (agṙawoy) |
ագռաւոց (agṙawocʻ) |
| dative |
ագռաւոյ (agṙawoy) |
ագռաւոց (agṙawocʻ) |
| accusative |
ագռաւ (agṙaw) |
ագռաւս (agṙaws) |
| ablative |
ագռաւոյ (agṙawoy) |
ագռաւոց (agṙawocʻ) |
| instrumental |
ագռաւով (agṙawov) |
ագռաւովք (agṙawovkʻ) |
| locative |
ագռաւ (agṙaw) |
ագռաւս (agṙaws) |
| post-classical |
Close
More information singular, plural ...
|
singular |
|
plural |
| nominative |
ագռաւ (agṙaw) |
ագռաւք (agṙawkʻ) |
| genitive |
ագռաւի (agṙawi) |
ագռաւաց (agṙawacʻ) |
| dative |
ագռաւի (agṙawi) |
ագռաւաց (agṙawacʻ) |
| accusative |
ագռաւ (agṙaw) |
ագռաւս (agṙaws) |
| ablative |
ագռաւէ (agṙawē) |
ագռաւաց (agṙawacʻ) |
| instrumental |
ագռաւաւ (agṙawaw) |
ագռաւաւք = ագռաւօք (agṙawawkʻ = agṙawōkʻ) |
| locative |
ագռաւի (agṙawi) |
ագռաւս (agṙaws) |
| post-classical |
Close
Derived terms
- ագռաւանամ (agṙawanam)
- արջնագռաւ (arǰnagṙaw)
- գայլագռաւ (gaylagṙaw)
References
Marr, N. (1904) Тексты и разыскания по армяно-грузинской филологии. Книга VI. Физиолог. Армяно-грузинский извод [Texts and research in Armenian–Georgian philology. Book VI. Physiologus. Armenian–Georgian recension] (Издания Факультета восточных языков Императорского С.-Петербургского университета; 5), Saint Petersburg: Academy Press, page 39 Muradyan, Gohar (2005) Physiologus: The Greek and Armenian Versions with a Study of Translation Technique (Hebrew University Armenian Studies; 6), Leuven – Paris – Dudley: Peeters, pages 135, 160 Awgereancʻ, Mkrtičʻ (1822) Pʻiloni Ebrayecʻwoy bankʻ erekʻ čʻew i loys əncayealkʻ. A. B. Yałags naxaxnamutʻean. G. Yałags kendaneacʻ [Philonis Judaei sermones tres hactenus inediti. I et II De Providentia, et III De Animalibus], Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy, page 171 Terian, Abraham (1981) Philonis Alexandrini de Animalibus: The Armenian Text with an Introduction, Translation and Commentary (Studies in Hellenistic Judaism; 1), Chico, California: Scholars Press, page 108
Further reading
- Ačaṙean, Hračʻeay (1971–1979) “ագռաւ”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian), 2nd edition, a reprint of the original 1926–1935 seven-volume edition, Yerevan: University Press
- Awetikʻean, G., Siwrmēlean, X., Awgerean, M. (1836–1837) “ագռաւ”, in Nor baṙgirkʻ haykazean lezui [New Dictionary of the Armenian Language] (in Old Armenian), Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
- Greppin, John A. C. (1978) Classical and Middle Armenian bird names: A linguistic, taxonomic, and mythological study, Delmar, New York: Caravan Books, pages 199–206
- J̌ahukyan, Geworg (2010) “ագռաւ”, in Vahan Sargsyan, editor, Hayeren stugabanakan baṙaran [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian), Yerevan: Asoghik, page 21a
- Petrosean, Matatʻeay (1879) “ագռաւ”, in Nor Baṙagirkʻ Hay-Angliarēn [New Dictionary Armenian–English], Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
