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sammāñāṇañce

sammāñāṇa

locative singular of sammāñāṇa (n.); -ce is an enclitic conjunction

1. right view
2. correct understanding
3. the first factor of the Noble Eightfold Path

Built from

• sam — prefix · together, completely
  Brings things into one; here shapes knowing into unified, complete understanding.
• mā — root · measure, fit
  Concrete sense of fitting or measuring; becomes 'right, proper, fitting' in compounds. Related to Latin modus.
• ñāṇ — stem · knowing, knowledge
  From √jñā (know), cognate with English 'know' and Greek gnōsis. Forms the noun of knowing.
• a — ending · nominative/genitive marker
  Masculine/neuter noun-forming suffix, here part of the locative singular form.
• ce — ending · enclitic emphasis particle
  Attaches to emphasize the topic or set a condition: 'as for, when it comes to.'

Analysis. sammā (well, rightly) + ñāṇa (knowing, knowledge); sammāñāṇa is 'right knowing.' The -ce ending attaches to emphasize 'as far as right view is concerned' or 'when it comes to right understanding.'

Etymology. sammā from sam- (together, completely) + √mā (measure, fit): 'fitting together, rightly.' ñāṇa from √jñā (know), cognate with English 'know,' Greek gnōsis. Together they form the canonical term for the first member of the Eightfold Path.

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

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