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seyyo

seyya

masc nom sg of seyya (adj)

1. seyya (adj): better (than); preferable (to); lit. luckier
2. seyyo (ind): better; it is better (than)

Built from

• se- — root · suit, fit
  The root carries the sense of what is apt or fitting. In Indo-European, *sek- means 'follow, suit'; what fits one's need is preferable.
• -yya — ending · comparative
  The suffix -ya- (assimilated to -yya- after the short vowel) marks the comparative degree, shifting the meaning from simple 'fitting' to 'more fitting, better'.

Etymology. From Indo-European *sek- 'to follow, suit', the sense evolving from 'that which suits' > 'apt, fitting' > 'better'. Cognate with English 'suit', Latin 'sequor' 'follow', Sanskrit 'sac-' 'accompany'; the comparative suffix -ya- marks the degree shift toward 'more fitting, superior'.

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

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