persica

[Fem. of Lat. Persicus, from Gr. Persikos of or belonging to Persia.] [PEACH (1), s.] Bot .: (1) Amygdal us persica ; (2) A synonym of inhabitants or language; Persic. B. As substantive: I. Ordinary Language : 1. A native or inhabitant of Persia. 2. The language spoken in Persia. It has two ancient representatives the Old Persian, or Ach semen i dan Persian, of Darius and his succe ors; and the language of the Avesta, the so-called Zend (q. v.). The former, of determinate date (five con turies B. C.), is read in the cuneiform inscriptions, recently deciphered; of the other, the date is unknown. Modern Persian is almost more Arabic than Persian. ( Whitney.) II. Technically : IMG:content-0924.png:[blocks in formation]