sabbacetasā

sabbacetas

masc instr sg of sabbacetas (noun); masc abl sg of sabbacetas (noun)

whole mind; whole heart; all intention

Built from

sabba — root · all, whole
From PIE *sárbh-; denotes totality or completeness across the whole range of something.
cetas — stem · mind, thought
Derived from √cit (to perceive, think); the n-stem cetas- makes an abstract noun for mental activity and intention.
ā — ending · instrumental/ablative singular
The long ā marks instrumental or ablative case in the masculine; here expressing the means or source of action (with whole mind).

Analysis. sabbacetas: sabba (all, whole) + cetas (mind, thought, intention). The compound expresses totality of mental application; commonly appears in the phrase 'sabbacetasā adhiṭṭhāsi' (resolved with whole mind).

Etymology. sabba < Proto-Indo-European *sárbh- (whole, entire); cetas from √cit (to perceive, think) via the n-stem formation, cognate with Sanskrit cetas and Latin citāre (to set in motion, hence mental stirring).

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

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