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paṭhamā
paṭhama
masc nom pl of paṭhama (ordin); fem nom sg of paṭhama (ordin); fem nom pl of paṭhama (ordin); nt nom pl of paṭhama (ordin); …
- paṭhama (ordin): first (1st); prime; lit. more forward
- paṭhama (adj): (gram) 3rd (person); he; she; it; they; lit. more forward
- paṭhama (masc): (gram) first consonant of each vagga; k, c, ṭ, t, p; lit. more forward
- paṭhamā (fem): (gram) nominative case
Built from
- pa — prefix · forward, forth
Directional prefix originally meaning 'forward' or 'out ahead', intensifying and placing something in prominence. Works like Latin pro-.
- ṭham — root · stand, place
Root meaning 'to stand' or 'be placed'; combines with pa- to create the sense of 'standing forward' or 'placed first'.
- a — stem · ordinal
Stem-forming element creating the ordinal adjective sense (first, second, etc.).
- ā — ending · feminine nominative singular
Feminine nominative singular ending. In this inflection, paṭhamā serves as the feminine form of the ordinal adjective.
Etymology. From pa- (forward, forth) + √ṭham (stand, place); literally 'standing forward' or 'placed foremost'. Cognate with Sanskrit prathamá- and Latin prīmus (first), both from Indo-European *per- (forward, through). The prefix pa- reverses or directs motion toward prominence, giving the sense of 'stepping forward' into first place.