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karaṇīyaṁ

karaṇīya

adjective, neuter singular nominative (sometimes used as abstract noun in -ṁ ending)

1. what ought to be done
2. fit to be done
3. proper duty

Built from

• kar — root · make, do
  The action of doing or making; cognate with English 'create' and Latin 'creare'.
• aṇa — ending · action noun
  Suffix forming abstract nouns of action from verbs.
• īya — ending · fit to be, should be
  Suffix forming gerundive adjectives expressing what is suitable, proper, or obligatory.

Analysis. karaṇīya = karaṇa (action, doing) + -īya (suffix forming adjectives of fitness or capacity); the gerundive sense 'what should be done' derives from the action noun

Etymology. from √kar (to make, do), cognate with English 'create', Latin 'creare', Sanskrit 'karoti'. The suffix -īya marks suitability or capacity, turning the action noun into an obligation or fitness adjective.

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

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