-եայ

From the stem vowel -ի (-i) and the element -այ (-ay), which is probably of the same origin as the genitive-dative ending of a-declension nouns. Later contaminated with Classical Syriac ܝܐ-‎ (-āyāʾ, “masculine gentilic suffix”) in borrowings such as հրեայ (hreay), քաղդեայ (kʿałdeay) and the Iranian ending in borrowings such as աշտեայ (ašteay), դժնեայ (džneay).

-եայ • (-eay)

1. made or consisting of; -en

   մետաքս ― metakʿs ― silk

   մետաքսեայ ― metakʿseay ― silken

   եղէգն ― ełēgn ― cane, reed

   եղեգնեայ ― ełegneay ― made of cane

   երեք ամ ― erekʿ am ― three years

   երեքամեայ ― erekʿameay ― consisting of three years

2. belonging to some group

   պաշտօն ― paštōn ― office, position, employment

   պաշտօնեայ ― paštōneay ― clerk, official, minister

   փախուստ ― pʿaxust ― flight, escape

   փախստեայ ― pʿaxsteay ― fugitive

   քրիստոնեայ ― kʿristoneay ― Christian

   հրեայ ― hreay ― Jew

• Armenian: -յա (-ya)

• J̌ahukyan, Geworg (1998), “-եայ”, in Hin hayereni verǰacancʿneri cagumə [The Origin of Old Armenian Suffixes] (Hayocʿ lezvi hamematakan kʿerakanutʿyan harcʿer; 2) (in Armenian), Yerevan: Anania Širakacʿi, pages 5–48