aħjar

Maltese

Root
ħ-j-r
3 terms

Etymology

Apparently from Arabic أَخْيَر (ʔaḵyar), elative of خَيْر (ḵayr), which latter also serves as an elative on its own. However, the long second syllable may point to influence by خِيار (ḵiyār) or أَخْيار (ʔaḵyār), plurals of the same خَيْر (ḵayr).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /aħˈjaːr/

Adjective

aħjar

1. comparative degree of tajjeb
   • 1966, Anton Buttigieg, “Agnes”, in Ejjew Nidħku Ftit Ieħor:

     Miexja fil-funeral ta’ kuġintha
     mart it-tabib, li mietet fl-aħjar tagħha;
     u f’moħħha ħsieb għaddej li t-tabib jista’
     kif jgħaddi ftit taż-żmien, jitgħarras magħha.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)