Etymology 1
From Proto-Indo-European *-iyn̥, *-iHn̥.
Suffix
-եան • (-ean)
- forming belonging/affiliation adjectives
References
- J̌ahukyan, Geworg (1998) “-եան”, in Hin hayereni verǰacancʻneri cagumə [The Origin of Old Armenian Suffixes] (Hayocʻ lezvi hamematakan kʻerakanutʻyan harcʻer; 2) (in Armenian), Yerevan: Anania Širakacʻi, pages 5–48
Etymology 2
Probably from Iranian *-yān, a postvocalic variant of the pluralization suffix *-ān, whence -ան (-an). Alternatively, from Etymology 1, contaminated with the Iranian pluralization suffix.
Suffix
-եան • (-ean)
- forming collectives
References
- J̌ahukyan, Geworg (1998) “-եան”, in Hin hayereni verǰacancʻneri cagumə [The Origin of Old Armenian Suffixes] (Hayocʻ lezvi hamematakan kʻerakanutʻyan harcʻer; 2) (in Armenian), Yerevan: Anania Širakacʻi, pages 5–48
Etymology 3
The origin is uncertain. Perhaps the same with the adjective-forming suffix -եան (-ean) of Etymology 1.
Suffix
-եան • (-ean)
- singular genitive/dative/locative case ending for certain verb derivatives, especially those with -ստ (-st), -ունդ (-und), -ուրդ (-urd)
- կորստեան ― korstean ― genitive/dative/locative singular of կորուստ (korust)
- ամսեան ― amsean ― archaic genitive/dative/locative singular of ամիս (amis)
- խորհրդեան ― xorhrdean ― genitive/dative/locative singular of խորհուրդ (xorhurd)
- ծննդեան ― cnndean ― genitive/dative/locative singular of ծնունդ (cnund)
- տուընջեան ― tuənǰean ― genitive/dative/locative singular of տիւ (tiw)
References
- Godel, Robert (1975) An introduction to the study of classical Armenian, Wiesbaden: Dr. Ludwig Reichert Verlag, pages 106–107