Old Armenian

Alternative forms

• -ագոյն ‎(-agoyn)

Suffix

-գոյն • ‎(-goyn)

1. Forming the comparative degree of adjectives.

   լաւ‎ ― law ― good

   լաւագոյն‎ ― lawagoyn ― better

   մեծ‎ ― mec ― big

   մեծագոյն‎ ― mecagoyn ― bigger

2. In certain cases, forming the superlative degree of adjectives.

Usage notes

In modern Armenian this suffix forms only superlative degrees. In Old Armenian the superlative sense was expressed with such adverbs as կարի ‎(kari), յոյժ ‎(yoyž), սաստիկ ‎(sastik), անհնարին ‎(anhnarin): for example յոյժ մեծ ‎(yoyž mec, “the biggest”).

Derived terms

Descendants

• Armenian: -գույն ‎(-guyn)

References

• Abrahamyan, Ašot (1976) Grabari jeṙnark [A Handbook of Old Armenian] (in Armenian), 4th edition, Yerevan: Luys
• Ačaṙean, Hračʿeay (1971–1979), “գոյն”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Dictionary of Armenian Root Words] (in Armenian), 2nd edition, Yerevan: University Press, published 1926–1935
• J̌ahukyan, Geworg (1998), “-ագոյն”, in Hin hayereni verǰacancʿneri cagumə [The Origin of Old Armenian Suffixes] (Hayocʿ lezvi hamematakan kʿerakanutʿyan harcʿer; 2) (in Armenian), Yerevan: Anania Širakacʿi, pages 5–48