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anumoditvā

absolutive of anumodati

1. having approved (of); having appreciated; having applauded; lit. having been happy beside

Built from

• anu — prefix · along, following
  Trailing behind, following the track of; here creates the sense of rejoicing aligned with another's action.
• mod — root · be pleased, glad
  √mud in Sanskrit mudā 'delight'; conveys an emotional state of joy or satisfaction.
• i — stem · verbal stem
  Thematic vowel marking the present stem of the root.
• tvā — ending · absolutive marker
  Converts the verb into an absolutive (indeclinable past participle), expressing an action completed before the main verb.

Analysis. anu- (along, following) + √mud (to be pleased, glad) with causative-like force in this prefix compound: literally 'being pleased along with' or 'rejoicing in the merit or action of another', a key practice in Theravāda ethics for sharing in others' good deeds.

Etymology. √mud 'to be pleased' is cognate with Sanskrit mudā 'delight' and perhaps distantly with English mood (a state of mind); anu- 'following along' transforms the root from simple joy into participatory rejoicing with others' virtues.

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

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