Etymology

From the Avestan verbal root . The original nominative form is , pl. , reflecting Proto-Iranian *yazatah and pl. *yazatāhah.

From the same root comes Avestan . A yazata is accordingly "a being worthy of worship" or "a holy being." The word is etymologically related to Sanskrit , , , and is perhaps also related to Greek ἅγιος hagios "devoted to the gods, sacred, holy."

Avestan became or (pl. ) in Middle Iranian languages, continuing in New Persian as izad.

Noun

1. a divinity, an angel of Zoroastrianism
2. an epithet of saints or prophets