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bhiyyoso

indeclinable (comparative form)

1. still more; even more; even greater (than); exceeding

Built from

• bhiyyo — stem · more, greater
  Adverbial comparative form derived from bhīya (fear, awe, reverence). The sense 'exceeding' arises from the notion of something so great it inspires awe.
• so — ending · comparative-adverbial marker
  Indeclinable comparative suffix attaching to adverbial stems. Equivalent to English -er or Latin -ius in adverbial use.

Analysis. bhiyyo + so; comparative suffix -so added to the adverbial form bhiyyo, itself from bhīya (fear, awe) with comparative sense 'greater in degree', extended here as 'more, further'. The -so ending marks comparative and superlative adverbs.

Etymology. From bhīya, cognate with Sanskrit bhaya (fear, reverence, respectful awe) and Greek phobos (fear); the sense evolved from 'something that inspires awe' to 'something great or exceeding' to the comparative 'greater, more'. The -so is the same ending seen in Latin comparative adverbs (magis from magnus).

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

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