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jarāya

jara

fem instr sg of jara (adj); masc dat sg of jara (adj); fem dat sg of jara (adj); nt dat sg of jara (adj); …

1. jara (adj): old
2. jara (masc): old age; growing old; decay
3. jara (masc): fever
4. jara (root): (gram) √jar (age)
5. jarā (fem): old age; ageing

Built from

• jar — root · age, decay
  The root √jar denotes natural withering and loss of vigor. Related to the Indo-European root that produced Latin serescere (to grow old) and English sere (withered).
• ā — stem · (feminine stem-former)
  The feminine stem-forming suffix -ā extends the root into the feminine noun jarā (old age).
• ya — ending · instrumental singular
  The instrumental ending -ya (with ablaut from -ena) marks the instrumental case, expressing means or agency: 'by means of old age' or 'through aging'.

Etymology. From √jar (to age, decay), cognate with Latin serere (to grow old, wither) and English sere (dry, withered). The root captures the imagery of things drying out and losing vitality over time.

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

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