Acknowledgments
My first acknowledgment is for the Lord of Wisdom, from Whom all knowledge, all blessings and all life arises.
The second, for my dear parents, who birthed me and raised me and encouraged me. For my dearest grandmother as well, whose eyes could not see the completion of it, but whose soul will.
The third, for my dear teachers, in particular Prof. Georges-Jean Pinault and Prof. Michaël Peyrot, who bathed me in Tocharian studies until I could swim, and encouraged me to always go forward, as well as Prof. Lubotsky for his patient teaching and readiness to help and answer all of my questions.
The fourth, for my dear colleagues and friends, who sustained me mentally and emotionally while I was writing this book, in particular Dr. Romain Garnier and Philippe Hattat as well as the two great Tocharologists Dr. Athanaric Huard and Alessandro Del Tomba (from afar), Dr. Kate Bellamy, Dr. Stefan Norbruis, Dr. Benjamin Suchard, Dr. Xander Vertegaal, Dr. Marijn van Putten and (soon to be) Dr. Aljoša Šorgo (from near), and Dr. Johnny Cheung, the living encyclopedia who remained my friend through thick and thin (both from near and afar). Dr. Athanaric Huard and Dr. Niels Schoubben, a particular word of thanks for carefully reading my manuscript and providing so many useful suggestions, and to Dr. Ruixuan Chen for his constant collaboration.
The fifth, for my non-Academic friends who always supported me during all those years, in particular my dear friends Nikoo (Zara) Qorbanseresht, Vincent van Strien, Laure Protat, Niloufar Rashedi. For my high-school teacher, Éric Blaisse, who woke up my yearning for etymology. For my teacher, Ardeshir Farahmand.
Thank you all.