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garu

masc nom sg of garu (adj); fem nom sg of garu (adj); nt nom sg of garu (adj); masc voc sg of garu (adj); …

1. heavy; onerous; weighty
2. serious; burdensome; difficult; problematic; lit. heavy
3. respected; esteemed
4. teacher; guru; esteemed person
5. respect; honour
6. giving weight to; giving importance to

Built from

• garu — root · heavy, weighty
  An ancient root expressing both physical weight and the metaphorical weight of importance, seriousness, and esteem. The same root appears in Sanskrit guru and Latin gravis, all descending from PIE *gwerə-.

Etymology. From Indo-European *gwerə- 'heavy, weight'; cognate with Sanskrit guru, Latin gravis 'heavy', English grave (as in 'grave matter'). The root carries the concrete image of downward weight that extends to seriousness and respect earned through weightiness of character.

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

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