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brahmato

brahma

masc abl sg of brahma (adj)

1. long; extended; fully grown
2. divine; holy; (comm) highest; distinguished

Built from

• brih — root · grow, expand
  The root expressing growth and extension; yields the sense of 'great' or 'extended' in both spatial and spiritual dimensions.
• ma — ending · agent
  The suffix -ma forms an agent noun or adjective: brahma = 'the great one' or 'the extended', also used as the neuter abstract noun 'greatness'.

Etymology. From √brih 'to grow, expand': brahma as 'the grown, extended' or 'the great'. Cognate with Sanskrit bṛhat 'great, large' and English 'bright' (originally 'shining broadly'). The sense shifted from physical size to spiritual grandeur, especially in compounds like brahmacārin and brahmacariya (the extended, disciplined life).

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

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