Old Armenian

Alternative forms

• արհեստ ‎(arhest) (post-classical)

Noun

արուեստ • ‎(aruest)

1. art; trade, handicraft

   ազատական արուեստ‎ ― azatakan aruest ― liberal arts

   մեքենական արուեստ‎ ― mekʿenakan aruest ― mechanical arts

   գեղեցիկ արուեստ‎ ― gełecʿik aruest ― fine arts

2. skilfully crafted handiwork
3. sign, miracle
4. monster
5. artifice, expedient, means, invention, ingenuity

Declension

Usage notes

There was no distinction between արուեստ ‎(aruest) and արհեստ ‎(arhest) in Old Armenian; the latter was merely the post-classical spelling of the former. In modern literary Armenian արհեստ ‎(arhest) is used for “handicraft, trade” while արվեստ ‎(arvest) is reserved only for “mental creation, art”.

Derived terms

Descendants

• Armenian: արվեստ ‎(arvest), արհեստ ‎(arhest)

References

• Ačaṙean, Hračʿeay (1971–1979), “արուեստ”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Dictionary of Armenian Root Words] (in Armenian), 2nd edition, Yerevan: University Press, published 1926–1935
• Ačaṙean, Hračʿeay (1979), “Haykakankʿ (Armeniaca)”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Dictionary of Armenian Root Words] (in Armenian), volume IV, 2nd edition, Yerevan: University Press, pages 671–673
• J̌ahukyan, Geworg (2010), “արուեստ”, in Sargsyan, Vahan, editor, Hayeren stugabanakan baṙaran [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian), Yerevan: Asoghik, ISBN 978-9939-50-121-5, page 94b
• Petrosean, H. Matatʿeay V. (1879), “արուեստ”, in Nor Baṙagirkʿ Hay-Angliarēn [New Dictionary Armenian–English], Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy