Ephthalite

From Latin Ephthalītēs, from Ancient Greek Ἐφθαλίτης (Ephthalítēs), from Bactrian Ηβοδαλο (Ēbodalo) +‎ Ancient Greek -ίτης (-ítēs).

• IPA^(key): /ˈɛfθəˌlaɪt/

Ephthalite (plural Ephthalites)

1. Alternative form of Hephthalite.
   • 1653, The History of the Warres of the Emperour Justinian, page 3:

     Theſe Ephthalites are a Hunniſh Nation, but not mingled with other Hunnes, having no part of their Country bordering upon them; [...]

   • 1685, William Howel, An Institution of General History, London, page 44:

     This Perozes was Valiant and Warlike, but with more Courage than Diſcretion made War againſt the Ephthalites, as Procopius, or Nephthalites as Agathias calls them, about their Boundaries.

   • 2025, Kenneth A. R. Kennedy, God-Apes and Fossil Men: Paleoanthropology of South Asia, page 337:

     The Kushanic unification of the valleys of the Oxus, Indus, and Ganges under one kingdom was broken by central Asian invaders, the Ephthalites, who destroyed the Buddhist monasteries and stupas, [...]

Ephthalite (comparative more Ephthalite, superlative most Ephthalite)

1. Alternative form of Hephthalite.

   Synonym: Ephthalitic

   • 1764, A General History of the World, page 330:

     The Ephthalite Hunns, or Nephthalite, as Agathias ſtiles them, inhabited a rich country bordering to the north on Perſia, and at a great diſtance from the Sarmatian or Scythian Hunns, with whom they had no intercourſe, nor the leaſt reſemblance, either in their perſons or manners.

   • 1876, George Rawlinson, The Seventh Great Oriental Monarchy, London, page 427:

     They had extended their dominion over the great Ephthalite kingdom, partly by force of arms, partly through the treachery of Katulphus, an Ephthalite chieftain; [...]

   • 1955, Hermann Goetz, The Early Wooden Temples of Chamba, Leiden: E. J. Brill, page 40:

     Without these affinities even the duration of the Ephthalite empire for one and a quarter centuries would be inexplicable.

• “Ephthalite”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
• “Ephthalite”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.

• Ephtalite, Hephthalite

From Latin Ephthalītēs, from Ancient Greek Ἐφθαλίτης (Ephthalítēs).

• IPA^(key): /ɛf.ta.lit/

Ephthalite m or f by sense (plural Ephthalites)

1. Ephthalite, Hephthalite
   • 1781, Histoire universelle, page 260:

     Les Ephthalites de Procope, ou Huns Nephthalites d’Agathias, habitoient une riche contrée, ſituée près des frontieres ſeptentrionales de la Perſe.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 1875, Précis de géographie historique universelle, volume 2, page 286:

     Les Ephthalites ou Huns Blancs, établis entre le lac d’Aral, l’Oxus inférieur et la mer Caspienne, conservaient seuls encore leur indépendance.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 1881, Encyclopédie du dix-neuvième siècle, page 125:

     Il parvint à soumettre les Ephthalites ; mais son caractère inflexible et son penchant pour la nouveauté le rendirent bientôt redoutable aux Perses eux-mêmes.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2005, Les Sogdiens en Chine‎^[1], page 276:

     Et en 516, les Gaoju du roi Mi-e-tu [...] se réfugièrent en masse chez les Ephthalites après avoir été écrasés par les Ruanruan.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Ephthalītē m

1. ablative/vocative singular of Ephthalītēs