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abhiññāya
abhiñña
fem instr sg of abhiñña (adj); masc dat sg of abhiñña (adj); fem dat sg of abhiñña (adj); nt dat sg of abhiñña (adj); …
- abhiñña (adj): with direct knowledge; with experiential understanding; with realization; lit. completely knowing
- abhiññā (fem): direct knowledge; higher understanding; specialized knowledge; lit. complete knowledge
- abhiññā (fem): psychic power; supernormal ability; lit. complete knowledge
- abhiññāya (ger): directly knowing; understanding experientially; lit. completely knowing
Built from
- abhi — prefix · toward, over
Facing something and bearing down on it; the spatial sense of frontal approach hardens into the sense of full comprehension and grasping insight.
- jñā — root · know, understand
Cognate with Latin gnōscere, Greek gignṓskein, English know (all from Indo-European *ǵneh₃-). The root alone gives simple knowing; abhi- makes it penetrating and direct.
- ya — ending · gerundive marker
Forms the gerundive (infinitival) sense: directly knowing or by knowing directly. In context, marks the instrumental or dative function of the gerund.
Analysis. abhi- + jñā: "toward and over" + "knowing"; the prefix adds the sense of penetrating or grasping knowledge that goes beyond mere perception—knowledge that bears down on and fully comprehends its object.
Etymology. abhi- (toward, over, bearing down; Latin ob-) + √jñā (to know; cognate with Latin gnōscere, Greek gignṓskein, English know). The root √jñā descends from Indo-European *ǵneh₃-, and abhi- shifts it from simple cognition to direct, penetrating insight.