ꜣwt-jb

Egyptian

Etymology

Most likely from the infinitive of ꜣwj-jb (to be happy); however, some instead suggest a derivation directly from ꜣwt (length) +‎ jb (heart) in a direct genitive construction. The former would imply the noun is masculine; the latter, feminine. It is attested a few times modified by (apparently masculine) nb, suggesting that the former is the case, but the omission of feminine adjective endings is also not unusual.

Pronunciation

Noun


  1. happiness, joy

Alternative forms

Noun


  1. a pectoral amulet in the form of the hieroglyphs

    ligatured, presumably intended to bring the wearer happiness [Greco-Roman Period]

Usage notes

These amulets are attested long before the word for them appears in the textual record; older instances of the word have apparently not survived.

Alternative forms

Noun





  1. realgar (red arsenic sulfide) [since the New Kingdom]

Usage notes

Before the Late Period this term is found almost exclusively in medical texts (Papyrus Chester Beatty V and Papyrus Ebers).

Alternative forms

References

  • James P[eter] Allen (2010), Middle Egyptian: An Introduction to the Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs, 2nd edition, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 455.
  • Erman, Adolf; Grapow, Hermann (1926), Wörterbuch der ägyptischen Sprache[1], volume 1, Berlin: Akademie-Verlag, →ISBN, pages 4.17–5.1
  • Faulkner, Raymond Oliver (1962), A Concise Dictionary of Middle Egyptian, Oxford: Griffith Institute, →ISBN, page 1
  • Lesko, Leonard; Lesko, Barbara (2002), A Dictionary of Late Egyptian, second edition, volume 1, Providence: B.C. Scribe Publications, →ISBN, page 3
  • Wilson, Penelope (1991), A Lexicographical Study of the Ptolemaic Texts in the Temple of Edfu, Liverpool: University of Liverpool, pages 3–4