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imināva

ima

pronoun, instrumental singular + emphatic particle

1. ima (pron): this
2. iminā (pron): with this; by this

Built from

• ima — root · this (proximal demonstrative)
  The pointing particle *i- with the demonstrative suffix -ma. Points to something near the speaker, contrasting with amu (that, far).
• iminā — stem · this (instrumental case)
  Instrumental singular form of ima: marks the instrument or means by which an action is done; here, 'with/by this'.
• va — prefix · just, alone, even (emphatic)
  Enclitic particle that emphasizes the preceding word, often marking restriction or intensification. Brings focus onto the proximal demonstrative.

Analysis. iminā (instrumental singular of ima 'this') + va (emphatic particle, 'alone, just, even'). The -va emphasizes the proximal deictic force: 'with this very [thing], no other'.

Etymology. ima is the proximal demonstrative stem (this, here), cognate with Latin is-te (from *i-ste, 'that one'), Sanskrit imá. The root is the deictic particle *i- (pointing), related to English it and Latin is. The emphatic -va (alone, just) is an enclitic adverb without clear Indo-European cognates but attested across Middle Indo-Aryan.

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

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