‹ Back to the text

paṭipadañca

paṭipada

neuter nominative/accusative singular + ca (and); paṭipadañca is a sandhi contraction

1. paṭipada (nt): way; path of progress; path of practice
2. paṭipada (adj): who is walking the path; who is practising the path; going along
3. paṭipadā (fem): way; path of progress; mode of practice; method of implementation
4. paṭipadā (fem): (in debate) procedure; mode of conduct; rules of engagement
5. paṭipadā (fem): name for certain suttas

Built from

• paṭi — prefix · back, against
  Indicates return-motion and counter-stance. Here it shapes pada into a deliberate, responsive path of practice.
• pada — root · foot, step, place
  From PIE *ped- (foot; English foot, Latin pes). Concretely the mark of a footstep; metaphorically a station, stage, or way to be walked.
• ca — ending · and
  Enclitic conjunction joining this term to what follows; the -a of paṭipada elides before ca, leaving paṭipadañca.

Analysis. paṭipada + ca (and); the final -a of paṭipada assimilates with ca to -añca in sandhi.

Etymology. paṭi (back, against, in return) + pada (foot, step, place). The prefix paṭi- suggests a turning-back or counter-movement: the path as a way one treads in response to a challenge, a practice undertaken as a deliberate response or counter to ignorance. Cognate with Sanskrit paṭhapad, though the canonical sense emphasizes methodical practice and the *way* itself rather than merely a track.

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

Lite mode — plain HTML for e-readers and old browsers. Full version