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nūna

ind

1. indeed; surely; surely not; truly
2. could it be?; what if?; shall?; let's?; perhaps?

Etymology. From a root meaning 'to know' or 'to perceive', cognate with Sanskrit nūnam (indeed, certainly) and related to the Indo-European root *gn̥- (to know, as in English 'know', Greek gignōskō, Latin nōscō). The particle developed from an original sense of 'certainly known' to expressions of doubt and conditional supposition.

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

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