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Ab·khaz

(ăb-kăz, äb-käz) also Ab·kha·zian (ăb-kāzhən, -zē-ən, -kä-, äb-)

n. pl. Abkhazor Ab·khaz·es

a. A native or inhabitant of Abkhazia.

b. A member of the predominant, traditionally Muslim or Orthodox Christian ethnic group of Abkhazia.

2. The Northwest Caucasian language of Abkhazia, also spoken in Georgia and Turkey.

[Russian, from Georgian Abxazi, from Greek Abasgos, probably of Northwest Caucasian origin; compare Abaza (Northwest Caucasian language of western Abkhazia) and Abkhaz Abaza, Abaza.]

Ab·khazian adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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