‹ Back to the text

pattabbaṁ

pattabba

neuter singular nominative, or abstract noun; past participle passive (gerundive) of pāpuṇāti 'to reach, obtain'

1. what should be reached
2. what is attainable
3. goal, aim

Built from

• patta — stem · reached, obtained
  Past participle of pāpuṇāti (to reach, arrive). Marks completion and status as an object of attainment.
• -abba — ending · should be, worthy of
  Gerundive suffix (also -anīya, -iya); expresses obligation, fitness, or propriety—what ought to happen or what is proper to do. Cognate with Sanskrit -avya and English -able.

Analysis. patta- (past participle of pāpuṇāti 'reached, obtained') + -abba (gerundive suffix, marking fitness or obligation). The form expresses what is worthy of attainment or what should be sought.

Etymology. From √pāp (Sanskrit pra-āp, 'to arrive, reach'); the gerundive -abba is cognate with Sanskrit -avya (Latin -abilis, English -able). The concrete sense 'reached' extends to 'what should be reached, a proper aim or goal'.

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

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