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sikkhitabbaṁ

sikkhati

neuter nominative singular gerundive (future passive participle) of sikkhati

1. should be trained
2. is to be learned
3. ought to be practised

Built from

• sikh — root · learn, train
  The verbal root underlying this word; the idea is one of instruction or correction, as in straightening the conduct of a pupil.
• ita — ending · past participle marker
  This suffix makes a past participle stem (sikkhita- 'trained'), which then receives the gerundive suffix.
• bba — ending · gerundive (obligation)
  This suffix marks obligation or fitness—what should or ought to be done; common in prescriptive and doctrinal contexts.

Analysis. sikkhita- (past participle, 'trained') + -bba (gerundive suffix, marking obligation); the form sikkhitabbaṁ is the neuter nominative/accusative of the obligation phrase.

Etymology. From √sikh 'to learn, train' (related to Sanskrit śikṣ-), with the gerundive suffix -bba marking what ought to be done. The root itself is of uncertain origin but may relate to the idea of straightening or instructing.

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

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