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saṇhena

saṇha

masc instr sg of saṇha (adj); nt instr sg of saṇha (adj); masc instr sg of saṇha (noun)

1. saṇha (adj): (of speech) smooth; soft; gentle; mild; polite
2. saṇhena (ind): smoothly; softly; gently; mildly
3. saṇha (adj): fine; delicate
4. saṇha (adj): smooth; polished; burnished
5. saṇha (adj): (of cloth) smooth; soft; gentle
6. saṇha (masc): type of bowstring made from bamboo; lit. smooth
7. saṇha (adj): (of a person) polite; speaking politely; well-mannered; lit. smooth

Etymology. Root unclear; possibly related to Sanskrit sāndha 'soft, supple', though the connection is uncertain. The word carries concrete imagery of smooth, polished surfaces (cloth, bowstrings, speech) that extends to the gentleness of manner and tone. No reliable Indo-European cognates.

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

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