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puccha
nt voc sg of puccha (noun); imp 2nd sg of pucchati (verb); masc voc sg of pucchanta (prp); nt voc sg of pucchanta (prp); …
- puccha (imp): please enquire!; ask! (somebody about)
- puccha (nt): tail
- pucchati (pr): asks; enquires; questions (somebody about)
- pucchanta (prp): asking; enquiring; questioning (somebody about)
- pucchā (fem): question; enquiry
- pucchi (aor): asked; enquired; questioned (somebody about)
Built from
- pucch — root · ask, enquire; tail
The root sense is 'to ask, enquire' (as in pucchati). The secondary noun sense 'tail' reflects the image of something trailing behind or following after. Cognate with Sanskrit pṛcchati 'asks'.
- a — ending · neuter nominative/vocative singular; imperative 2nd singular
As neuter nominative/vocative singular, marks the noun puccha. As imperative 2nd singular of the verb, gives the form 'ask!' — the same ending signals both nominal and verbal functions.
Etymology. Root √pucch- (to ask, enquire); related to Sanskrit pṛcchati (asks), Greek pyr- (in certain dialects, to ask), and English purse (originally to ask for, seek). The noun 'tail' develops from the sense of 'something that trails behind' or 'follows' — cognate with German Fuss (foot, that which trails).