Armenian

Alternative forms

• ծեր ‎(cer) (dialectal, colloquial)

Noun

ծայր • ‎(cayr)

1. tip, end

   գրչի ծայր‎ ― grčʿi cayr ― tip of the pen

2. border, edge; brim; brink
3. top, summit
4. beginning
5. (slang, vulgar) ****; the head of the ****, helmet, knob, (glans ****)

Declension

Old Armenian

Etymology

The origin is uncertain. Has been compared to Old Georgian წუერი ‎(c̣ueri); see there.

Noun

ծայր • ‎(cayr)

1. end, extremity

   ծայր ի ծայր, ծայրիւ եւ ծայրիւ‎ ― cayr i cayr, cayriw ew cayriw ― from beginning to end, from one extremity to the other; to the full; punctually

   քաղել զսաղմոսն ծայր ի ծայր‎ ― kʿałel zsałmosn cayr i cayr ― to recite the whole psalter

   ի ծայրն հասանել‎ ― i cayrn hasanel ― to reach or attain the maximum

   ծայրիւք աչաց‎ ― cayriwkʿ ačʿacʿ ― glancing slyly at

   ծայրիւք ականջաց լսել‎ ― cayriwkʿ akanǰacʿ lsel ― to listen furtively, to eavesdrop

2. border, edge
3. (figuratively) summit, head, top of mountains or hills
4. (figuratively) ray of the newly risen sun
5. (figuratively) the utmost pitch, the highest degree
6. (figuratively) the best part of something
7. (figuratively) overmeasure, excess

Declension

Derived terms

Descendants

• Armenian: ծայր ‎(cayr)

References

• Petrosean, H. Matatʿeay V. (1879), “ծայր”, in Nor Baṙagirkʿ Hay-Angliarēn [New Dictionary Armenian–English], Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
• Awetikʿean, G.; Siwrmēlean, X.; Awgerean, M. (1836–1837), “ծայր”, in Nor baṙgirkʿ haykazean lezui [New Dictionary of the Armenian Language] (in Old Armenian), Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
• Ačaṙean, Hračʿeay (1971–1979), “ծայր”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Dictionary of Armenian Root Words] (in Armenian), 2nd edition, Yerevan: University Press, published 1926–1935
• J̌ahukyan, Geworg (1987) Hayocʿ lezvi patmutʿyun; naxagrayin žamanakašrǰan [History of the Armenian language: The Pre-Literary Period] (in Armenian), Yerevan: Academy Press, page 598