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katamā

katama

fem nom sg of katama (interr); fem nom pl of katama (interr); fem acc pl of katama (interr)

1. what?; which (of the many)?

Built from

• ka- — root · who, what
  Interrogative stem from *kwo-. Also the base of kasmiṁ (to whom), kena (by what), kahiṁ (where).
• -tama — ending · emphatic, superlative
  Superlative suffix that sharpens the interrogative force. Marks nominative feminine singular (or plural forms in the inflectional system).

Etymology. From Indo-European *kwo- (interrogative stem: 'who, what'), with the suffix -tama (superlative or emphatic marker). Cognate with Latin quī, English who, Greek pós. The suffix -tama intensifies the question, narrowing the sense toward 'which one specifically?'

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

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