zendhttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zend_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_useZend, n. & adj.
Revised 2018

Zendnoun & adjective

  1. noun
      1. 1.a.
        1700–
        Frequently with the. The sacred writings of Zoroastrianism; the Avesta (Avesta n.); formerly also in plural. Cf. Zend-Avesta n. Now rare.
        Avesta is now the usual term.
        Recorded earliest in attributive use, in the sense ‘relating to or used in the Zend-Avesta’, with reference to the Avestan language (cf. sense A.2).
        1. 1700
          Literæ..quæ..apud incolas vulgò audiunt Literæ Zundicæ, seu Character Zundicus, vel si Anglicè loquimur, the Zund Character.
          T. Hyde, Historia Religionis Veterum Persarum xxvi. 338
        2. 1716
          This book is called Zendavesta, and by contraction Zend, the vulgar pronounce it Zundavestow, and Zund.
          H. Prideaux, Old & New Testament Connected vol. I. iv. 176
        3. 1789
          The Zends are much more modern than the Shastah.
          D. Webb, translation of C. de Pauw, Select. Les Recherches Philosophiques 105
        4. 1790
          Their sacred book, the Zend, which is said to have been written by their celebrated prophet Zerdusht.
          W. Francklin, Observations Tour Bengal to Persia (ed. 2) 29
        5. 1857
          It was a very ancient primary doctrine of the Magi..and may be found in the old Zends.
          C. Kingsley, Letter 9 May in Letters & Mem. (1885) xii. 194
        6. 1892
          He then returned from Ahuramazda with the Zend in one hand and the celestial fire in the other.
          J. M. Roberts, Antiq. Unveiled (1894) 583
        7. 1998
          The Parsees..called their canonical religious books the Zend, derived from the teachings of their founder Zarathustra, or Zoroaster.
          P. A. Redpath, Masquerade of Dream Walkers vii. 195
      2. 1.b.
        1856–
        Frequently in form zand. An exegesis, commentary, or translation of a passage from the Avesta (Avesta n.) forming part of the canon of Zoroastrianism, written in Book Pahlavi, and appearing alongside the Avestan text in many manuscripts; (also) such interpretations considered collectively.
        1. 1856
          Not the whole Avesta is thus accompanied by its Zend.
          Journal of American Oriental Society vol. 5 358
        2. 1867
          The religious books, that is, the whole Avesta and Zand.
          Journal Royal Asiatic Society vol. 3 254
        3. 1928
          Just as Zend is the ‘explanation’ of an Avestic text in Pahlawí, so is Pázend (= paiti-zainti) a ‘re-explanation’ of a Pahlawí text.
          E. G. Browne, Literary History of Persia vol. 1 ii. 81
        4. 1984
          Secondary to the Avesta were the translations from the sacred language with commentary. These were known as the Zand. The only surviving Zand is in Pahlavi.
          J. R. Hinnells, Penguin Dictionary Religion 57/2
        5. 2015
          Kartīr..did not imply that Mani and his followers produced their own Zand, in the sense of a Middle Persian translation and interpretation of the Avesta.
          P. Dilley in I. Gardner et al., Mani at Court of Persian Kings v. 131
    1. 2.
      1771–
      The ancient Iranian language in which the Avesta (Avesta n.) is written; = Avestan n.
      Avestan is now the more usual term.
      1. 1771
        It [sc. a character] not a little resembles that..deduced from the Zend and Pazend.
        Philosophical Transactions 1770 (Royal Society) vol. 60 354
      2. 1789
        M. Anquetil..has exhibited in his work, entitled Zendávestà, two vocabularies in Zend and Pahlavì.
        W. Jones, Discourse Persians in Works (1799) vol. I. 83
      3. 1837
        Illustrations of the languages called Zand and Pahlaví.
        Journal of Royal Asiatic Society vol. 4 345 (heading)
      4. 1864
        Professor Rask..proved that Zend, though allied to Sanskrit, was a distinct language.
        A. H. Bleek, Avesta vol. III. Introduction p.xvi.
      5. 1901
        He left St. Petersburg..to study Zend at Louvain.
        Review of Reviews July 22/1
      6. 1976
        Numerous discoveries made in Zend, Sanskrit, Semitic, of Indo-European.
        Dædalus Winter 154
      7. 2009
        Devoting themselves to the study of texts written in ancient languages—Old Norse, Zend, Old Slavic, Sanskrit , and especially ancient Greek.
        Representations vol. 106 36
    2. 3.
      1819–
      An adherent of Zoroastrianism; a Zoroastrian. Chiefly in plural. Now rare.
      1. 1819
        Their language..has great affinity to that of the Zends.
        Weekly Entertainer 1 February 90
      2. 1888
        The old burial places of the Chevsurs are the old ‘dakhme’ of the ‘Zends’ and their religious rites and moral precepts a direct reproduction of those contained in the Avesta.
        Archaeol. Review vol. 1 331
      3. 1902
        His [sc. Ahura's] physiognomy is not so distinctly limned in the Sanskrit literature as it is in the writings of the Zends.
        Open Court March 167
      4. 1987
        The sacred book of the Zends was searched and perished. And the language of the Zends..was handicapped by alien influences.
        V. A. Rizvi, Eminent Muslim Scientists, Quaid & Poets 97
  2. adjective
    1. 1762–
      Of or relating to the Avestan language or to the Zend-Avesta; of or relating to Zoroastrianism; Zoroastrian. Also: designating the Avestan language, the Zend-Avesta, or the Zoroastrian religion.
      1. 1762
        Nerengs..are written in modern Persic, with Zend characters.
        Gentleman's Magazine September 426/1
      2. 1763
        Indian and Persic versions of Zend originals..which serve as commentaries upon the Zend text.
        Annual Register 1762 Antiquities 110/2
      3. 1838
        The deeves of the Zend religion were the source of the Hebrew doctrine.
        Foreign Quarterly Review October 108
      4. 1854
        We may amicably close all controversy about ‘Media’ or ‘Bactria’, as the home of the Zend speech..and as the cradle of the Zend people.
        Journal Ethnol. Society vol. 3 224
      5. 1878
        He was the first English scholar to master the original Zand texts.
        G. Smith, Life of John Wilson vii. 213
      6. 1901
        The Zend high-priest.
        J. F. Hewitt, Hist. & Chronol. of Myth-Making Age iii. 124
      7. 1968
        The Avesta is the book in the Zend language of Zoroaster.
        M. Elsnau, Gods of Creation i. 6
      8. 2007
        He inspected the Zend manuscript in the Bodleian.
        Journal of History of Ideas vol. 68 261

Zend, n. & adj. was revised in June 2018.

Zend, n. & adj. was last modified in September 2024.