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mahākaccānassa

mahākaccāna

masc dat sg of mahākaccāna (noun); masc gen sg of mahākaccāna (noun)

1. name of an arahant monk; great disciple of the Buddha; foremost monk in explaining a brief instruction in detail; lit. great descendant of Kati

Built from

• mahā — prefix · great
  Prefix or adjective meaning greatness and growth, from √mah. Cognate with English much, Latin magnus; the spatial sense of 'large' carries into 'pre-eminent'.
• kaccāna — root · Kaccāna (patronymic)
  A proper name and clan designation, probably of pre-Buddhist origin. It may be connected to the Kacchāyana family; the exact etymology is obscure but likely reflects a geographical or tribal affiliation.

Analysis. mahā + kaccāna; mahā = 'great' (prefix/adjective); kaccāna = descendant of Kati (a patronymic or clan name, possibly from kaccha 'armpit' or a tribal designation). The compound names one of the Buddha's principal disciples, celebrated for his ability to expand concise teachings into elaborate expositions.

Etymology. mahā (from √mah 'to grow, be great'; cognate with English much, Latin magnus) + kaccāna (an old patronymic, probably pre-Buddhist, of uncertain origin; possibly from kaccha, but more likely a proper name from the Kacchāyana clan or a similar tribal group). The epithet 'Great Kaccāna' distinguishes him from other members of his family or clan who entered the order.

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

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