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bahumpi

bahu

adj; nominative/accusative (form bahuṃ) with enclitic particle api

1. many; much; lots; a lot (of); great; large

Built from

• bahu — root · many, much
  PIE *bʰag- (share, abundance). The underlying spatial image is 'spread out, distributed widely' — hence much and many.
• ṃ — ending · accusative singular
  Marks the direct object or neuter/masculine accusative form, here agreeing with a noun or used adverbially.
• api — prefix · even, also, though
  Enclitic particle cognate with Sanskrit api and Greek epi. Adds concessive or emphatic force: 'even if many', 'however many', softening or reinforcing the preceding word.

Analysis. bahuṃ (acc. sg. m./n. of bahu) + api (enclitic 'even, also') = 'even many, however many'; a formula softening or emphasizing quantity.

Etymology. bahu from Proto-Indo-European *bʰag- (share, apportion), cognate with Sanskrit bahu, Greek phagein (to eat, consume — that which sustains many), Latin baculum. The sense 'many' develops from 'abundant, widely distributed.' api is an enclitic particle (cognate with Sanskrit api, Greek epi 'upon, also'), used to add emphasis or concession.

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

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