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micchāsaṅkappā

micchāsaṅkappa

masc nom pl of micchāsaṅkappa (noun); masc instr sg of micchāsaṅkappa (noun); masc abl sg of micchāsaṅkappa (noun); masc voc sg of micchāsaṅkappa (noun); …

1. wrong intention; incorrect notion; false idea; wrong concept
2. having wrong intention; with wrong notions; with wrong ideas

Built from

• micchā — root · wrong, bad
  Bad intention arises from twisted will; the root's imagery is deflection or distortion from the straight path.
• saṁ — prefix · together
  Brings things into unity; saṁ + √kapp yields the unified mental resolve that constitutes intention.
• kapp — root · be fitting, be formed
  What fits together or is properly formed; wrongly-formed when joined to micchā, it becomes disordered will.

Analysis. micchā (wrongly, badly) + saṅkappa (intention, resolve); literally 'badly-directed intention'. In the Eightfold Path, one of three wrong mental factors (micchādiṭṭhi, micchāsaṅkappa, micchāvācā) that must be abandoned for sammāsaṅkappa 'right intention'.

Etymology. micchā from Pali miccha (wrong, bad, false), probably from Indo-European *mik- or *smik- (to turn aside, go awry); cognate with Sanskrit mithyā (falsely). saṅkappa from saṁ (together) + √kapp (to be fitting, be formed), yielding 'what comes together' or 'formed intention'. The compound thus traces wrongness to mis-formation of the will.

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

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