[French, from Persian zandavastā, from transposition of Avestā-va-zend, text and commentary, from Middle Persian Abestāg u zand : abestāg, text (sense uncertain, possibly from Avestan *upastāvaka-, praise, from upastaoiti, he praises : upa-, up to, at; see upo in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + staoiti, he praises) + u, with + zand, explanation (from Avestan zainti-, knowledge, interpretation; see gnō- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).]