ḫftj

Egyptian

Etymology

From ḫft (“facing, opposite”) +‎ -j (“nisba ending”); the noun is simply a nominalized use of the nisba adjective.

Pronunciation

• (modern Egyptological) IPA^(key): /xɛfti/
  • Conventional anglicization: khefti

Adjective

1. opposing

Inflection

Declension of ḫftj (nisba adjective)

	masculine	feminine
singular	ḫftj	ḫftt
dual	ḫftjwj, ḫftwj	ḫfttj
plural	ḫftjw, ḫftw	ḫftwt1, ḫftt2
Archaic in Middle Egyptian when modifying a noun. From Middle Egyptian, this feminine singular form was generally used for the plural. In Late Egyptian, the masculine singular form was used with all nouns.

Alternative forms

Alternative hieroglyphic writings of ḫftj  

ḫft

Noun

 m

1. enemy, adversary
   • c. 1550 BCE – 1295 BCE, Great Hymn to Osiris (Stela of Amenmose, Louvre C 286) lines 21–22:

     mꜣꜥ.n.sn n zꜣ ꜣst ḫft(j).f ḫr n qn.f

     To the son of Isis they have delivered his adversary, fallen through his (own) violence.

   • c. 1401 BCE, Amduat of Amenhotep II (tomb of Amenhotep II, KV35) First Hour, closing text, line 13:

     smꜣꜥ-ḫrw.k r ḫft(j)w.k

     May you be vindicated against your enemies!

Inflection

Declension of ḫftj (masculine)

singular	ḫftj
dual	ḫftjwj
plural	ḫftjw

Alternative forms

Alternative hieroglyphic writings of ḫftj  

ḫftj	ḫft

Descendants

• Akhmimic Coptic: ⳉⲉϥⲧ (xeft)
• Bohairic Coptic: ϣⲁϥϯ (šafti)
• Fayyumic Coptic: ϣⲉϥϯ (šefti)
• Sahidic Coptic: ϣⲁϥⲧⲉ (šafte)

References

• James P[eter] Allen (2010) Middle Egyptian: An Introduction to the Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs, 2nd edition, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, pages 40, 88, 91, 339.
• Hoch, James (1997) Middle Egyptian Grammar, Mississauga: Benben Publications, →ISBN, page 71