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suppaṭividdhā

suppaṭividdha

masc nom pl of suppaṭividdha (adj); fem nom sg of suppaṭividdha (adj); fem nom pl of suppaṭividdha (adj); nt nom pl of suppaṭividdha (adj); …

1. thoroughly penetrated; completely understood (by); lit. well pierced back

Built from

• su — prefix · well, good
  Intensifying prefix from Indo-European eu-; cognate with Greek eu- (eulogy).
• paṭi — prefix · back, against
  Indicates reversal or counter-motion; the imagery of 'back-piercing' suggests thorough penetration through and through.
• viddha — stem · pierced, penetrated
  Past participle of vindati (to pierce, split). The root √vidh carries the sense of piercing or cleaving through obstacles.

Analysis. su- (well, good) + paṭi- (back, against) + viddha (past participle of vindati, pierce); literally 'well-pierced-back', meaning thoroughly understood or penetrated by insight.

Etymology. From su + paṭi + √vidh. The root √vidh (pierce, cleave) is cognate with Sanskrit vidh- and perhaps distantly with English 'white' (something that stands out as split or divided). The prefix paṭi (back, against) and su (well, good) intensify: what is 'well-pierced-back' is what has been thoroughly worked through and grasped. In the canon, this term describes the deep penetration of Dhamma through meditation and understanding.

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

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