խօս

Alternative forms

• խաւս (xaws)

Etymology

The original spelling is խաւս (xaws), of uncertain origin.

J̌ahukyan suggests derivation with metathesis from Iranian *vaxs, with a (Scythian?) sound change š → s from Proto-Iranian *vaxša- (“speech”), whence Avestan 𐬬𐬀𐬑𐬱𐬀‎ (vaxša, “speech, order”), Middle Persian whš (waxš, “word, message”). For the metathesis he compares Ormuri [script needed] (ɣuš, ɣwoš, “to speak”). See Proto-Indo-European *wṓkʷs for more.

Noun

խօս • (xōs)

1. (usually in the plural) word; speech, language, tongue; discourse, sermon; saying; diction; talk, conversation, chat

   խօսք ընդ Աստուածոյ ― xōskʿ ənd Astuacoy ― prayer

   իտալական խօսիւք ― italakan xōsiwkʿ ― in the Italian language

   խօսս արկանել, առնել ― xōss arkanel, aṙnel ― to speak, to talk

   խօսս առնել, դնել ― xōss aṙnel, dnel ― to compose, to write

   ի խօսս գալ, մատչել ― i xōss gal, matčʿel ― to begin to speak in one's turn; to converse, to talk

   ի խօսս առնել ― i xōss aṙnel ― to cause to speak

   ի խօսս լինել, խօսք կանանց/լեզուաց լինել ― i xōss linel, xōskʿ kanancʿ/lezuacʿ linel ― to be the public scorn, to become a byeword

   կարճել զխօսս ուրուք ― karčel zxōss urukʿ ― to interrupt a person, to break in upon

   խօսք քո յայտ առնեն զքեզ ― xōskʿ kʿo yayt aṙnen zkʿez ― thy speech betrayeth thee

2. (usually in the plural) word, promise
3. (usually in the plural) report, news
4. (usually in the plural) crowing of a cock

   խօսք հաւու ― xōskʿ hawu ― cock-crowing

References

• Petrosean, H. Matatʿeay V. (1879), “խօսք”, in Nor Baṙagirkʿ Hay-Angliarēn [New Dictionary Armenian–English], Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
• Awetikʿean, G.; Siwrmēlean, X.; Awgerean, M. (1836–1837), “խօս”, in Nor baṙgirkʿ haykazean lezui [New Dictionary of the Armenian Language] (in Old Armenian), Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
• Ačaṙean, Hračʿeay (1971–1979), “խօս”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Dictionary of Armenian Root Words] (in Armenian), 2nd edition, Yerevan: University Press
• Martirosyan, Hrach (2010) Etymological Dictionary of the Armenian Inherited Lexicon (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 8), Leiden, Boston: Brill, page 327
• J̌ahukyan, Geworg (1995), “Hay-iranakan lezvakan zugadipumner [Armenian–Iranian Lingual Parallels]”, in Patma-banasirakan handes [Historical-Philological Journal]‎ (in Armenian), issue 2, pages 183–186