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abhikkamantu

abhikkamati

imp 3rd pl of abhikkamati (verb)

1. goes forward; proceeds
2. (of illness) is increasing; is getting worse; lit. goes forward
3. comes; comes out; approaches; lit. goes forward

Built from

• abhi — prefix · toward, over
  Bearing down on something; facing and advancing. Cognate with Latin ob- (observe, obtain).
• kka — stem · go, move
  From √kam (to go, proceed). The geminate kk marks the imperative formation, with assimilation of the root-initial consonant.
• ntu — ending · 3rd plural
  Imperative ending (-ntu) signaling command to a third-person plural subject.

Analysis. abhi- (toward, over) + kka (assimilation of -k-) + √kam (go). The doubling and assimilation mark the imperative stem.

Etymology. abhi- (toward and over, bearing down) + √kam (go, move; related to Sanskrit gam-, English come). The spatial prefix abhi- suggests motion forward and outward, hence 'proceeds' or 'advances'.

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

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