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paññavanto

paññavant

masc nom sg of paññavant (adj); masc nom pl of paññavant (adj); masc voc pl of paññavant (adj)

1. wise; intelligent; discerning; insightful; percipient; lit. having actively knowing quality
2. in reference to MN34 Cūḷagopālakasutta; lit. having actively knowing quality

Built from

• paññā — root · wisdom, knowing
  Derived from pa- (forward, distinctly) + √ñā (to know, perceive). The pa- prefix gives the sense of knowledge that stands forth distinctly and actively, not mere passive awareness. Cognate with √jñā (Sanskrit), English 'know', German 'Kennen'.
• vant — ending · having, endowed with
  Adjectival suffix from Sanskrit -vant-, meaning 'possessing' or 'characterized by'. Here it forms an adjective from the noun paññā, making 'one who has wisdom actively'.

Etymology. paññā (wisdom, understanding, discernment: from √pañ 'to know, perceive') + vant (suffix forming adjectives meaning 'having, endowed with'; cognate with Sanskrit -vant, Latin -ventus in compounds like biventris). The compound means 'possessing wisdom'; paññā itself derives from the prefix pa- (forth, forward, distinctly) + √ñā (to know), so the word etymologically suggests 'knowing that stands out distinctly, wisdom that comes to the fore'.

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

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