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abhijjhā

fem nom sg of abhijjhā (noun); fem nom pl of abhijjhā (noun); fem acc pl of abhijjhā (noun); fem instr sg of abhijjhā (noun); …

1. wishing; wanting; covetousness; greed; lit. over thinking

Built from

• abhi — prefix · toward, over
  Bearing down on or facing something; intensifies the notion of desire as an outward-reaching movement.
• ijjhā — stem · wishing, desire
  Desiderative noun from √ich (to wish, desire), expressing the habitual or characteristic inclination to crave or hanker.

Analysis. abhi + ijjhā, where ijjhā is a desiderative formation from √ich (to wish, desire). The prefix abhi (toward, bearing down on) intensifies the sense of desire turned outward and upon objects.

Etymology. abhi (toward, over) + √ich (to wish, desire). The root √ich is the same as Sanskrit ichchati (desires); it is cognate with English "itch" and German "Ekel" (disgust) in the sense of something that moves or pricks the mind. The desiderative suffix -ijjhā-/-ichcha- forms a noun of the longing itself, which the prefix abhi then sharpens into active craving directed outward at objects.

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

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