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dīgharattaṁ

dīgha-ratta

accusative singular neuter of the compound dīgha-ratta (literally "long night"); used adverbially as "for a long time"

1. for a long time
2. over a long period
3. for ages

Built from

• dīgha — root · long
  Adjective meaning length in space or time; cognate with Latin longus and English long.
• ratta — root · night
  Noun meaning night or darkness; cognate with Sanskrit rātra.
• aṁ — ending · accusative singular neuter
  Marks the direct object accusative singular neuter form; used adverbially here without a governing verb.

Analysis. dīgha (long) + ratta (night); the concrete image of a long night metaphorically extends to any extended duration.

Etymology. dīgha derives from Proto-Indo-European *denh₂- (extend, long), cognate with Latin longus and English long via Old English. Ratta (night) is cognate with Sanskrit rātra, from a root meaning darkness.

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

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