Editing Bhaga (section)

== Etymology ==

The cognate term in [[Avestan]] and [[Old Persian]] is ''{{lang|peo-Latn|baga}}'', of uncertain meaning but used in a sense in which "lord, patron, sharer/distributor of good fortune" might also apply.<!-- Uncertain: Since adjectives follow the noun, it might be an epithet of the preceding name, eg "Lord X". Alternatively, it might be part of a [[dvandvah]] compound, i.e. read as "X (and) Baga," which would imply Baga is a specific figure (cf. Ahura Mazda for various considerations). --> The cognate in [[Slavic languages]] is the root [[wikt:Appendix:Proto-Slavic/bogъ#Etymology|bogъ]] ("god"). The [[semantics]] is similar to [[English language|English]] ''[[lord]]'' (from ''[[:wikt:hlaford|hlaford]]'' "bread-warden"), the idea being that it is part of the function of a chieftain or leader to distribute riches or spoils among his followers. The name of the city of [[Baghdad]] derives from [[Middle Persian]] ''⁠bag-dād⁠'', "lord-given".