Mittelpersisch rōzag ‘Fasten’

Abstract

In this paper, we propose to explain Middle Persian rōzag ‘fasting’ as a decompositional formation from dō-rōz=ag ‘(fasting ritual) of two days’. It is neither possible – we argue – to explain rōzag as a formation with the sufffix*-(a)ka- from the primary word rōz ‘day’ nor °rōzag-compounds as compounds with rōzag ‘fasting’ as a second member. We discuss °rōzag-compounds generally. We postulate, for instance, that Parthian bēmrōzag does not mean ‘fasting day of the Bema’ but ‘commemoration of the Bema’. At the end, we put up for discussion that there may be other suchlike decompositional words in Iranian languages, for instance paT zanag ‘kind’. Key Biblical quotations are identified in M 2 (Mk 9.29) and M 16 supporting our translations. (At the end of this article, there is a list of the formations, words and passages that we discuss.)