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acapalena

acapala

masc instr sg of acapala (adj); nt instr sg of acapala (adj)

1. steady; steadfast; consistent; reliable; lit. not shaking forward

Built from

• a — prefix · not, without
  Plain negation. Cognates: English un-, Greek a(n)- (atheist, anonymous).
• capala — root · shaking, trembling
  The concrete image of quivering or unsteady motion; Sanskrit capala means the same, denoting instability of body or mind.

Analysis. a- (not) + capala (shaking, trembling): literally 'not shaking', hence unshakeable, steady in bearing or mind.

Etymology. The prefix a- (without, not) negates capala, which is related to Sanskrit capala 'trembling, unsteady' and ultimately to the root meaning 'to shake or tremble' (cf. Latin cavillor 'to quibble', though less directly); the double negation creates a positive quality of stability and constancy.

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

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