Middle Persian

Alternative forms

• 𐭠𐭭𐭩𐭫𐭠𐭭 ‎(ʾnylʾn /*anērān/)

Noun

𐭠𐭭𐭩𐭥𐭠𐭭 • ‎(ʾnyrʾn /*anērān/)^[2]

1. collective ethnonym for non-Iranians, i.e. of, or pertaining to, non-Iranian peoples.^[1]
2. political and religious enemies of the Sassanid state (i.e. of Ērān),^[3] i.e. abbreviated form of 𐭠𐭭𐭩𐭥𐭠𐭭𐭱𐭲𐭥𐭩 ‎(Anērānšahr, literally “kingdom(s) of (i.e. ruled by) non-Iranians”).^[1]

Note: the distinction is between nation and state.

Derived terms

• 𐭠𐭭𐭩𐭥𐭠𐭭𐭱𐭲𐭥𐭩 ‎(Anērānšahr)

Descendants

• Persian: انیران ‎(Anīrān)
• → Old Armenian: Աներան ‎(Aneran)

References

1. 1 2 3 4 MacKenzie, David Niel (1998). "Ērān, Ērānšahr". Encyclopedia Iranica, vol. 8. Costa Mesa: Mazda, p. 534.
2. ↑ Gignoux, Philippe (1972) Glossaire des Inscriptions Pehlevies et Parthes (Corpus Inscriptionum Iranicarum. Supplementary Series; 1) (in French), London: Lund Humphries, page 16
3. ↑ Gignoux, Phillipe (1987). "Anērān". Encyclopedia Iranica, vol. 2, New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul, pp. 30–31.