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kātabbā

kātabba

masc nom pl of kātabba (ptp); fem nom sg of kātabba (ptp); fem nom pl of kātabba (ptp); nt nom pl of kātabba (ptp); …

1. should be done; lit. to be done
2. should be made; lit. to be done
3. duty; lit. to be done

Built from

• kā — root · do, make
  Root of action and creation. Cognate with Latin creare, English craft, Greek keramis (pottery). The concrete image is shaping matter with the hands.
• tabba — ending · should be, worthy of
  Obligative participle suffix forming the past passive. Marks what ought to be done or is fit to be done. Related to the concept of capability (like English able).
• ā — ending · feminine singular nominative
  Agreement marker for feminine singular nominative; here the feminine kātabbā can function as a noun meaning duty or obligation.

Etymology. √kar (do, make) + -tabba suffix forming obligative participles. Cognate with Latin creare (create) and Sanskrit kṛ; the suffix -tabba derives from the same PIE root as English able (< Latin habilis). The sense 'should be done' preserves the obligative force of the suffix: what one is able or obliged to do.

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

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