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samannesanā

fem nom sg of samannesanā (noun); fem nom pl of samannesanā (noun); fem acc pl of samannesanā (noun); fem instr sg of samannesanā (noun); …

1. investigation; inspection; scrutinization; examination; lit. searching through

Built from

• saṁ — prefix · together, completely
  Brings things into one unified action; here, makes seeking into thoroughness. Cognate with English same and Latin con- (with, together).
• annes — stem · search, seeking
  From √es, to seek or search. The prefix a(n)- (non-, without) may be reanalyzed here, but the element is best treated as a single stem annes- (seeking).
• anā — ending · feminine action noun
  The -anā suffix derives feminine abstract nouns of action from verbal roots, yielding the meaning 'the act of searching' → 'investigation'.

Analysis. sam + annesanā; a compound of sam- (together, completely) and annesanā (searching, from √esati to search). The prefix sam- intensifies the searching into a thorough or complete investigation.

Etymology. From saṁ + √es (to search, seek). The root √es is cognate with English "essay" (a trying-out) and Latin "esse" in the sense of striving or seeking. The prefix saṁ- (from Indo-European *sem-, "together") appears in English "same" and Latin "similis"; it transforms the simple act of seeking into a coordinated, systematic investigation.

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

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