Farsi, n. (a.)
(ˈfɑːsiː)
Also Fārsī, Farsee.
[a. Pers., f. Fārs, the Arabic name for the region of Pars in Iran: see Parsee and Persian a. and n.]
a. = Parsee 2. b. The Persian name for the modern Persian language; cf. Persian n. 2. Also attrib. or as adj.
| 1878 Chambers's Encycl. VI. 426/1 The transition from the ancient to the modern Persian is formed by the Parsee, or, as the Arabs call it, Farsi, in use from 700 to 1100 A.D. 1926 Ibid. VIII. 39/1 The present or modern Persian (which is invariably called Farsi by the modern Persians). 1951 N. B. Jopson Persian Lang. 8 In the old province of Fars, where Fārsī (or Pārsī), the language of Persia, originated. 1962 Whitaker's Almanack 1963 907 Persian, or Farsi, the language of Iran, and of some other areas formerly under Persian rule, is an Indo-European tongue with many Arabic elements added. 1979 Observer 25 Nov. 5/5 One of the aides is the Press Secretary, who presents Farsi translations..of British Press reports. 1980 Times Lit. Suppl. 5 Sept. 972/4 The disgusting state of the walls of the London Underground stations, defaced by slogans in Farsee or Arabic characters. 1984 Bull. British Soc. Middle Eastern Studies xi. 123 It may still not be too late to put an end to the grotesque affectation of applying the name ‘Farsi’ to the language which for more than five hundred years has been known to English-speakers as Persian. |