Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-Iranian/Hásuras

This Proto-Indo-Iranian entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Indo-Iranian

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *h₂ḿ̥suros, from *h₂ems- (“to engender, beget”). Cognate with Proto-Germanic *ansuz (“god, deity”).

Noun

*Hásuras m

1. (religion) deity

Declension

masculine a-stem
	singular	dual	plural
nominative	*Hásuras	*Hásurā	*Hásurā, -ās(as)
vocative	*Hásura	*Hásurā	*Hásurā, -ās(as)
accusative	*Hásuram	*Hásurā	*Hásurāns
instrumental	*Hásurā	*HásuraybʰyaH, -ābʰyām	*Hásurāyš
ablative	*Hásurāt	*HásuraybʰyaH, -ābʰyām	*Hásuraybʰyas
dative	*Hásurāy	*HásuraybʰyaH, -ābʰyām	*Hásuraybʰyas
genitive	*Hásurasya	*Hásurayās	*Hásurāna(H)m
locative	*Hásuray	*Hásurayaw	*Hásurayšu

Coordinate terms

• *daywás

Usage notes

In the later descendant languages and religions, *Hásuras has become opposed to *daywás. So in the Iranian tradition, the reflexes of *Hásuras are used positively, while those of *daywás come to mean “demon, devil”. The opposite is true in the later Hindu tradition, but in its earliest source, the Rig Veda, both words are used interchangeably to refer to divinities, as is also the case with the Germanic cognates *ansuz and *tīwaz.

Descendants

• Proto-Indo-Aryan: *Hásuras
  • Sanskrit: असुर (ásura) (see there for further descendants)
• Proto-Iranian: *Háhurah
  • Avestan: 𐬀𐬵𐬎𐬭𐬀 (ahura, “lord”)
• → Proto-Uralic: *asera
  • Proto-Mordvinic: *azərə
    • Erzya: азоро (azoro, “lord”)
    • Moksha: азор (azor, “lord”)
  • Proto-Permic:
    • Komi-Zyrian: озыр (ozyr)
    • Udmurt: узыр (uzyr)
  • Proto-Ugric:
    • Proto-Mansi: *ātər
      • Northern Mansi: [script needed] (ōtər, “prince”)
    • >? Hungarian: úr (“lord”)

Further reading

• Joki, Aulis J. (1973) Uralier und Indogermanen [Uralians and Indo-Europeans] (Suomalais-Ugrilaisen Seuran Toimituksia; 151) (in German), Helsinki: Suomalais-Ugrilainen Seura, →ISBN