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အား

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Burmese

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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Noun

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အား (a:)

  1. the last in the set of twelve vowels traditionally taught in the learning of the Burmese language
Derived terms
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Etymology 2

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The "strength" sense is from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *k-ra (strength; to win; classifier for people). Cognate with Old Chinese (OC *rɯɡ, “strength”) (STEDT). Sagart relates the "free" sense to (OC *ɡraːs, “leisure”).

This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.
Particularly: “The "free" sense is considered equivalent to the "strength" sense by MED, perhaps via semantic extension "strength" > "capability" > "without restrictions, free" or something similar. However, STEDT appears to separate the "free" sense, and doesn't link it to any root (â: "vacant; free, disengaged"), and Luce doesn't mention it either. If it is etymologically different, could it be related to Old Chinese (OC *kʰa, *qʰa, “empty, void”)? Old Chinese uvulars correspond to "zero" in Burmese, so this seems possible, while Sagart's theory seems phonetically problematic.”

Noun

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အား (a:)

  1. strength, force, power
  2. resources (i.e. man, money, material)

Verb

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အား (a:)

  1. to be vacant
  2. to be free (not in use; without obligations)
    Synonym: အားလပ် (a:lap)

Particle

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အား (a:)

  1. particle suffixed to a verb to convey the sense of having the heart to be insensitive or apathetic
Derived terms
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Etymology 3

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(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Postposition

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အား (a:)

  1. word indicating dative case, equivalent to the preposition "to"
  2. poetic use in lieu of ကို (kui)
Derived terms
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Further reading

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  • အား” in Myanmar–English Dictionary (Myanmar Language Commission 1993). Searchable online at SEAlang.net.
  • အား 1 (‘strength’)” in The Judson Burmese–English Dictionary (Rangoon: American Baptist Mission Press 1921), page 131.
  • အား 2 (‘be free’)” in The Judson Burmese–English Dictionary (Rangoon: American Baptist Mission Press 1921), page 133.
  • အား” in Wörterbuch Burmesisch–Deutsch (VEB Verlag Enzykolopädie Leipzig 1976), by Annemarie Esche.