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hotūti

hoti

imperative + iti (quotative particle); 'let it be!' (used as a set phrase or quotation marker)

1. hoti (pr): is; becomes
2. hoti (pr): exists (for)
3. hoti (pr): stays; remains; continues to be; lit. is
4. hotu (imp): may it be (for)!
5. hotu (imp): let it be!; be that as it may!

Built from

• hotu — stem · be (imperative)
  Imperative singular of √bhū (to be, become). Cognate with English be, Latin ferre (bear), and Greek phyein (to grow); all from PIE *bhew-. The imperative signals a command or wish.
• iti — ending · quotation marker
  Uninflected particle marking the end or framing of quoted speech. Functions here as a discourse particle signaling acceptance or resignation ('thus', 'so be it').

Analysis. hotu (imperative singular of hoti 'to be') + iti (quotative particle introducing or closing speech). The phrase is idiomatic: hotu iti means 'be that as it may' or marks acceptance/resignation in discourse.

Etymology. hoti derives from PIE *bhew- 'to become, grow, be' (cognate with English be, Latin fuī, Greek phyein 'to grow'). The imperative stem hotu- is the same root with vocalic shift and thematic inflection. iti is an uninflected quotative particle, possibly related to the demonstrative stem i- (this).

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

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