Avestan

American  

[uh-ves-tuhn] / əˈvɛs tən /

noun

1. an ancient East Iranian language of the Indo-European family, the language of all the Avesta but the Gathas.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the Avesta or its language.

Avestan British  

/ əˈvɛstɪk, əˈvɛstən /

noun

1. Formerly called: Zend.  the oldest recorded language of the Iranian branch of the Indo-European family; the language of the Avesta

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adjective

1. of or relating to the Avesta or its language

Etymology

Origin of Avestan

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

Example Sentences

Manx Irish Breton Nadsat Simlish Avestan Vepsian Quechua Romansh Linguists have reported that young speakers of the endangered Aka language have been using it to create hip-hop.

From BBC • May 30, 2012

The present collection is made by combining various Avestan codexes.

From Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 3 by Mabie, Hamilton Wright

There were two main branches of the Iranian group, viz. the Old Persian and the Avestan.

From New Latin Grammar by Bennett, Charles E. (Charles Edwin)

The collection, such as it was, was in the Avestan dialect, which had grown partially obsolete and unintelligible.

From The Destiny of the Soul A Critical History of the Doctrine of a Future Life by Alger, William Rounseville

The translation of the Avestan books, probably made under these circumstances as early as A. D. 350, is called the Huzvaresch.

From The Destiny of the Soul A Critical History of the Doctrine of a Future Life by Alger, William Rounseville