Avestan

[uh-ves-tuh n]

noun

an ancient East Iranian language of the Indo-European family, the language of all the Avesta but the Gathas.Compare Gathic(def 1).

adjective

of or relating to the Avesta or its language.

Origin of Avestan

First recorded in 1855–60; Avest(a) + -an

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for avestan

Historical Examples of avestan

The Avestan Morals are brought out by Mr. Johnson in their original and exceeding purity.
The Bay State Monthly, Volume 3, No. 2
Various
The language of the Avesta can be correctly describedonly as Avestan, for no other literature in the same language exists.
The Worlds Greatest Books, Volume XIII.
Various
The reciprocal help of the deity and the king (19–21) is Avestan, and inconsistent with monotheism.
Solomon and Solomonic Literature
Moncure Daniel Conway
Among the Avestan Fragments, attention might finally be called to one which we must be glad has not been lost.
Library Of The World's Best Literature, Ancient And Modern, Vol 3
Various

British Dictionary definitions for avestan

Avestan

Avestic (əˈvɛstɪk)

noun

the oldest recorded language of the Iranian branch of the Indo-European family; the language of the AvestaFormerly called: Zend

adjective

of or relating to the Avesta or its language

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for avestan

Avestan

Eastern Iranian language that survived in sacred texts centuries after it went extinct, from Persian Avesta "sacred books of the Parsees," earlier Avistak, literally "books."