accusative singular neuter of sāma, an adverb or abstract noun (variant: sāmañ before certain letters)
Analysis. Likely built from a root sense of 'sameness' or 'togetherness'; related to sama- 'same, equal'. The word often appears in contexts of collective action or simultaneity.
Etymology. From PIE *som- 'together' (see sam-, saṁ-), underlying Sanskrit sama- 'same, equal' and English 'same'. The -aṁ ending may mark it as an abstract noun or adverbial form.
Meanings from the Digital Pāḷi Dictionary; morphology and etymology by Claude.
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