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kathāya

katha

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

1. katha (adj): with words; having talk; asking
2. kathā (fem): talk; speech; conversation; discussion
3. kathā (fem): argument; debate; lit. talk
4. kathā (fem): discourse on; lecture on; sermon on; lit. talk on
5. kathā (fem): commentary; detailed discussion; analysis; lit. talk on

Built from

• kath — root · speak, talk
  The root √kath- expresses the act of speaking or narration. It carries the image of words uttered and brought to light.
• ā — ending · feminine marker
  The feminine suffix -ā derives abstract nouns denoting action or quality from verbal roots; here it nominates the action of speaking into the feminine noun "talk" or "discourse".

Etymology. Root √kath- (to speak, narrate). Related to Sanskrit kathā and the Proto-Indo-European root *gʷet(h)- (to speak, say); cognate with English "quote" and Latin "quotiens" (how many times one says). The word denotes spoken words brought forth, the concrete act of voice becoming the abstract notion of talk or discourse.

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

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