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maggaṅgā

maggaṅga

masc nom pl of maggaṅga (adj); fem nom sg of maggaṅga (adj); fem nom pl of maggaṅga (adj); nt nom pl of maggaṅga (adj); …

1. part of the path; path factor
2. path factor; part of the (noble) way

Built from

• magga — root · path
  From √marg (to go, traverse), cognate with Sanskrit mārga and the family of English *merge*. The path is the way one goes or traverses.
• aṅga — root · limb, factor
  Cognate with Latin *angulus* and English *angle* (Indo-European *h₂enǵ-). Originally the limb as a joint or corner; extended to any constituent part or component of a whole.

Analysis. magga (path) + aṅga (limb, factor, component). In the formula of the Noble Eightfold Path (ariyaaṭṭhaṅgika-magga), each of the eight divisions is a maggaṅga—a constituent member that, together with the others, makes up the complete path to the cessation of suffering.

Etymology. magga derives from √marg (to go, traverse; Sanskrit mārga, cognate with English *merge* via Indo-European *merǵ-). aṅga (limb, factor) is cognate with Latin *angulus* (angle, corner) and English *angle*, all from Indo-European *h₂enǵ- (narrow, tight, corner); the concrete image of a limb as a corner or joint of the body generalized to mean any component or constituent member.

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

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