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👑 An ancient person 📜 An ancient language
Elamite

Elamite

1 9.9
People once spoke an old language in southwest Iran that is now extinct
  • noun
  • /ˈiːləˌmaɪt/
: elamita
  • The oldest surviving Elamite inscriptions date back more than four thousand years.

Examples

  • Ancient records in the Elamite language provide valuable insight into early Iranian history.

  • The Elamite script is still not fully deciphered.

  • Researchers struggle to decipher Elamite because of its unique structure and unknown relations.

  • The Elamite language was used in ancient inscriptions.

  • Ancient records in the Elamite language provide valuable insight into early Iranian history.

  • The oldest surviving Elamite inscriptions date back more than four thousand years.

  • Researchers struggle to decipher Elamite because of its unique structure and unknown relations.

Synonyms

Elamite language
vsElamite
9.9

A language no longer spoken in what is now southwestern Iran

is the same meaning but presented as another name
Elamitic language
vsElamite
  • Specialized
9.9

An extinct language once spoken by ancient people in the southwest of Iran

gives the same idea but in plain general terms
Susian language
vsElamite
  • Specialized
9.9

A language people spoke long ago in Susa in the southwest of Iran that no one speaks now

focuses on the same idea but uses different historic naming
Susian
vsElamite
  • Specialized
9.9

An ancient language once spoken by Elamite people in southwest Iran, now no longer used

describes a general lack of understanding rather than absolute unknown
Elamitic
vsElamite
  • Specialized
9.9

An extinct language once spoken by the Elamites

expresses uncertainty about affiliations rather than claiming isolation

Compounds

Elamite language
9.9

A language no longer spoken in what is now southwestern Iran

Surface Forms

Elamite singular
Elamites plural

Morphology

Elamite = Elam (transparent) = Elam + ite

Formed from the place name 'Elam' with the productive suffix '-ite' denoting people/language associated with a place, so the meaning is straightforward.

Etymology

Elamite comes from the place name Elam in what is now southwestern Iran and the ending -ite, which means 'from a place', as in Israelite, so Elamite refers to the language 'from Elam'.