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dussutaṁ

dussuta

accusative singular neuter of dussuta (adjective), or nominative/accusative singular neuter past participle; surface form dussutaṁ

1. poorly heard, not well learned
2. badly listened to

Built from

• du- — prefix · bad, hard
  Prefix meaning excess or defect in the wrong direction; cognate with Greek dys- (dysfunction).
• su — root · hear
  From √śru (suṇāti 'hears'); Indo-European √*kleu-, cognate with Greek κλύω and English loud.
• ta — ending · past participle
  Past participle suffix marking the object or state resulting from the action of hearing.

Analysis. du- (prefix, bad/hard) + suta (past participle of suṇāti 'hears', from √śru 'hear'). Literally 'badly heard' or 'poorly learned by hearing'; in doctrinal contexts, learning that is inadequate or poorly retained.

Etymology. du- is the Pali form of dys- (Greek δυσ-, bad, gone wrong; English dys- in dysfunction); suta derives from Indo-European √*kleu- (hear), cognate with Greek κλύω klúō and English loud. The compound expresses defective transmission or retention of the Dhamma through hearing.

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

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