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paṭivasati

pr 3rd sg of paṭivasati (verb)

1. lives (in); resides (at); stays (at)

Built from

• paṭi — prefix · back, against
  Spatial prefix meaning back or counter-direction; here it intensifies and localizes the action of dwelling, suggesting establishment or return to a place.
• vas — root · dwell, stay
  Root meaning to remain in a place, to settle. Cognate with Sanskrit vásati, Latin vastus (spacious, vacant land), and possibly English weary (one who dwells becomes weary).
• ti — ending · 3rd sg present
  The present indicative ending -ti marks third person singular active voice: 'he/she/it dwells'.

Analysis. paṭi- (back, against, in return) + vasati (dwells). The prefix paṭi- here conveys the sense of settling or establishing oneself in a place, turning the simple 'dwell' into 'dwell in/at' with the implication of taking up residence or establishing a position.

Etymology. From paṭi- (back, against, counter-; Greek proti/pros toward, against) + vasati (dwells), from √vas (to dwell, stay). Sanskrit cognate vásati; English cognates with vas-: vase (a vessel that 'holds'), German Wesen (being, essence). The prefix paṭi- originally spatial (back, against) here intensifies the notion of settling into a place.

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

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