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sevāmi

sevati

pr 1st sg of sevati (verb); imp 1st sg of sevati (verb)

1. associates; keeps company (with)
2. practices; pursues; engages (in); cultivates; lit. associates
3. serves; lit. associates
4. makes use (of); indulges (in); engages (with); lit. associates

Built from

• sev — root · associate; keep company
  From PIE *swe- (self, own), the root originally meant staying close to one's own sphere, then generalised to companionship and habit-formation.
• ā — ending · 1st singular present/imperative
  The thematic vowel ā marks present indicative or imperative 1st person singular active voice, bringing the action into direct address or assertion.

Etymology. Root √sev; cognate with Sanskrit sevate (attends, serves), from Proto-Indo-European *swe- (own, self) — the sense developed from "stays close to what is one's own" to "keeps company" and "practices (habitually)". Related to English swear (to bind oneself) and German schwör (swear).

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

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