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nīvaraṇāti

nīvaraṇa

masculine noun, nominative singular in -āti form (likely nīvaraṇa + iti, 'obstacle, it is')

1. obstacle; obstruction; barrier; hindrance; lit. blocking; covering
2. obstacle; obstruction; barrier; hindrance; lit. blocking

Built from

• ni — prefix · down, into
  Spatial prefix denoting downward or inward motion; here it intensifies the blocking sense of the root.
• var — root · cover, encircle
  Root √vṛ seen in Sanskrit āvaraṇa and English 'ward'; the concrete sense is wrapping or screening something.
• aṇa — ending · noun-forming
  Suffix deriving a noun of action or result; here, 'that which covers', hence 'obstruction'.

Analysis. nīvaraṇa + iti: the noun nīvaraṇa (obstacle) in nominative form followed by the copula iti (it is), asserting the nature or identity of something as an obstacle.

Etymology. ni- (down, into) + varaṇa (covering, barrier). The prefix ni- conveys the downward or inward pressing that blocks or covers over. Varaṇa derives from √vṛ (to cover, encircle), cognate with Sanskrit āvaraṇa (covering, veil) and English 'ward' (to guard, block). The concrete image is a covering or obstruction pressed down into place.

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

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