An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Any large town or populous place.

Etymology (EN): M.E. cite, from O.Fr. cite “town, city,” from L. civitas “citizenry; community,” from civis “native, townsman;” related to L. cuna “cradle; bed;” Gk. kome “village;” Skt. śiva- “auspicious, dear;” O.E. ham “dwelling, house, village;” E. home; Ger. Heim (→ hamlet); Iranian dialects kiye “house, home;” Xonsâri ki “house;” Anâraki xiya, Tâti Karingân kâ, Sangesari keh “house, home;” PIE *kei- “to lie; bed.”

Etymology (PE): Šahr “city,” from
Mid.Pers. šahr “land, country, city;” O.Pers. xša- “to rule,” pati-xša- “to have lordship over,” Xšyāršan- “hero among kings” or “ruling over heroes” the proper name of the Achaemenid emperor Helenized as Xerxes, upari.xšay- “to rule over,” xšāyaθiya- “king;” Mid.Pers. šâh “king,” pâdixšâ(y) “ruler; powerful; authoritative;”
Mod.Pers. šâh “king,” pâdšâh “protecting lord, emperor, monarch, king,” šâyestan “to be worth, suit, fit;” Av. xšā(y)- “to rule, have power,” xšayati “has power, rules,” xšāyô “power;” cf. Skt. ksā- “to rule, have power,” ksáyati “possesses;” Gk. ktaomai “I acquire,” ktema “piece of property;” PIE base *tkeh- “to own, obtain.”