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bhikkhuniyo

bhikkhunī

fem nom pl of bhikkhunī (noun); fem acc pl of bhikkhunī (noun); fem voc pl of bhikkhunī (noun)

1. nun; fully ordained nun

Built from

• bhikkhu — stem · monk, one who begs
  From √bhikṣ 'to beg'; cognate with Sanskrit bhikṣu and Proto-Germanic *begjaną (English beg). Concrete image: one who approaches others for alms.
• nī — ending · feminine suffix
  Marks the feminine counterpart to masculine -u stem nouns, here creating the feminine noun bhikkhunī 'nun' from the base bhikkhu.

Etymology. bhikkhunī is the feminine form of bhikkhu (monk), from √bhikṣ 'to beg' (Sanskrit bhikṣu, cognate with English beg via Proto-Germanic *begjaną). A bhikkhu or bhikkhunī is one who has renounced household life and lives by alms; the feminine -nī suffix marks the female counterpart.

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

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