𐏋

Old Persian

Alternative forms

• 𐎧𐏁𐎠𐎹𐎰𐎡𐎹 (x-š-a-y-θ-i-y)

Etymology

From Proto-Iranian *xšáyati, from Proto-Indo-Iranian *kšáyati (“he rules, he has power over”) (whence Sanskrit क्षयति (kṣáyati)), from Proto-Indo-European *tek- (“to gain power over, gain control over”).

Likely a borrowing from Old Median, being a doublet of 𐎧𐏁𐏂𐎶 (xšaça-, “realm, province”). Cognate with Sanskrit क्षत्र (kṣatrá, “might, power”), Avestan 𐬑𐬱𐬀𐬚𐬭𐬀 (xšaθra, “kingdom”), Old Armenian աշխարհ (ašxarh), Ancient Greek κτάομαι (ktáomai, “to get, acquire”).

Noun

𐏋 (xšāyaθiya)

1. king

Descendants

• Middle Persian: 𐭬𐭫𐭪𐭠 (šāh)
  • Persian: شاه (šâh) (see there for further descendants)
  • Tajik: шоҳ (šoh)