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ātāpī

masc nom sg of ātāpī (adj); masc nom pl of ātāpī (adj); fem nom sg of ātāpī (adj); nt nom pl of ātāpī (adj); …

1. avid; ardent; zealous; with continuous effort; lit. burning

Built from

• ā — prefix · toward, up to
  Reverses or intensifies the action of the root. Here, it turns √tap (burn) into a reflexive sense: 'burns toward oneself', glowing internally.
• tāp — root · burn, heat
  From √tap. The concrete image of burning or intense heat underlies the abstract meaning of zealous effort and ardor.
• ī — ending · masculine/feminine nominative
  Nominalizing suffix forming agent nouns; marks nominative singular (masc. or fem. adj.).

Etymology. ā- (toward, up to) + tāpa (heat, burning): literally 'burning up', the image of internal heat driving continuous exertion. The prefix ā- reverses the direction of the root √tap (to burn, heat), so ātapati means 'burns toward oneself', hence 'glows' or 'is aflame'. In Pali doctrine, ātāpin and ātāpī denote the monk who maintains constant spiritual heat—ardor in meditation and virtue. Cognate with Sanskrit ātapyate (heats oneself, strives); √tap connects to English damp (Old English related to warmth) and Latin tepidus (lukewarm), though the connection to 'heat' via 'burning' is most direct.

Meanings from the Digital Pāḷi Dictionary; morphology and etymology by Claude.

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