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rukkhaphalūpamā

rukkhaphalūpama

masc nom pl of rukkhaphalūpama (adj); fem nom sg of rukkhaphalūpama (adj); fem nom pl of rukkhaphalūpama (adj); nt nom pl of rukkhaphalūpama (adj); …

1. like a fruit tree; similar to a fruit tree

Built from

• rukkhā — root · tree
  Etymology uncertain; possibly connected to Sanskrit vrṣṭi 'rain' or weather phenomena. The tree as a standing entity providing shelter.
• phala — root · fruit
  From Proto-Indo-European *pel- 'to fill, be full'. Cognate with English 'full', Latin plenus, Greek plēres. The fruit as the ripened, full product of the tree.
• upa- — prefix · near, alongside
  Approach and proximity: 'placed up close to'. Works like English 'up' and Greek hypo-. Here it marks a comparison drawn alongside.
• -ma — ending · agent, quality noun
  Nominalizing suffix; ūpama is a noun meaning 'comparison' or 'simile', treated here as an adjective modifier meaning 'having the nature of a comparison'.

Analysis. rukkhaphala (tree fruit) + ūpama (simile, comparison); a compound adjective meaning 'having the comparison of a fruit tree', used in doctrinal similes.

Etymology. rukkhaphala from rukkhā (tree, possibly related to Sanskrit vrṣṭi 'rain' or cognate with Old English 'wretch' via Proto-Germanic) + phala (fruit, from Proto-Indo-European *pel- 'to fill', cognate with English 'full', Latin plenus); ūpama from upa- (near, alongside) + √man (think, measure), so 'placed alongside, a comparison'.

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

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