saṁvarā

saṁvara

noun, feminine (saṁvarā)

restraint, control
ethical restraint (especially of senses)
protective observance

Built from

saṁ — prefix · together, completely
Brings things into one unified whole; here applied to self-control and inner integration.
vṛ — root · cover, enclose, restrain
Concrete image of drawing boundaries or fencing in; becomes the basis for restraint, protection, and self-discipline.

Analysis. saṁ + √vṛ: "drawing together" or "fencing in". The prefix saṁ- (together, completely) combined with the root √vṛ (to cover, enclose) yields the sense of holding oneself within bounds.

Etymology. From saṁ- (together, with) + √vṛ (to cover, enclose, restrain). The root √vṛ appears in Sanskrit vṛṇoti and is cognate with English "wear" (in the sense of carrying/bearing) and German "währen" (to last, hold). The abstract sense of ethical restraint developed from the concrete image of fencing in or covering oneself.

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

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