‹ Back to the text

padaṁ

pada

noun, accusative singular (neuter)

1. word, term
2. step, footstep
3. position, state
4. doctrine, teaching

Etymology. from Indo-European *ped- "foot"; cognates: English foot, Latin pes, Sanskrit pad. The concrete sense "footstep, step" (a mark left by the foot) developed into "place, position" and thence into "word" (as a unit that stands in place in speech), and further "doctrine" or "teaching" (as a fixed point of wisdom).

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

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