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itiha

sandhi contraction (iti + ha or iti + iha)

1. so they say; according to tradition; according to legend; lit. thus indeed
2. thus here; thus in this regard
3. thus indeed; and so

Built from

• iti — root · thus, so
  A pronominal adverb from demonstrative *i-. Marks reported or cited speech.
• ha — ending · emphatic particle
  Asserts or emphasizes the preceding word; common in oral narrative. Cognate with Sanskrit ha.

Analysis. iti (thus, so) + ha (emphatic particle) or iti + iha (here, in this regard): a colloquial fusion marking hearsay, legend, or traditional report. The form reflects oral narrative convention, common in story-telling frames.

Etymology. iti is the pronominal adverb meaning 'thus' (from the demonstrative root *i-; cognate with Latin is 'this' via Indo-European *i-). ha is an emphatic or assertive particle (cognate with Sanskrit ha, Greek ke/ge); iha means 'here, in this place' (from Indo-European *idhā-; cognate with English 'this' and German 'hier'). The fusion itiha crystallized in Pali narrative to frame stories and hearsay with the sense 'thus they say' or 'as the tradition goes'.

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

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