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evañhi

sandhi form

1. evañhi (sandhi): exactly like this; in exactly the same way; lit. thus indeed
2. evaṃ (ind): thus; this; like this; similarly; in the same manner; just as; such
3. evaṃ (ind): yes!; that is right!; correct!

Built from

• evaṃ — root · thus, like this
  Demonstrative-locative adverb pointing to manner or circumstance; the concrete sense is 'in this place' or 'in this way', narrowed to mode and fashion.
• hi — root · indeed, verily
  Enclitic particle of emphasis and confirmation; marks certainty and presence. Cognate with Latin hic and English here, originally spatial deixis (here, now) that became a marker of assent.

Analysis. evaṃ (adverb, thus, like this) + hi (particle, indeed, verily); the sandhi form evañhi results from vowel contraction of evaṃ before hi. The particle hi emphasizes or confirms the preceding statement with certainty.

Etymology. evaṃ derives from Indo-European *e-we- (so, thus), cognate with Greek hoútos (this one) and Latin is (he); the root sense is deixis—pointing to the present moment or manner. The particle hi, an enclitic affirmative, comes from Indo-European *ghe-, appearing in Latin hic (here, this) and English here, originally marking immediacy and presence.

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

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