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therā

thera

masc nom pl of thera (adj); nt nom pl of thera (adj); nt acc pl of thera (adj); masc abl sg of thera (adj); …

1. old; elderly; senior; lit. lasting
2. elder; senior monk; monastic of ten or more years standing; lit. lasting
3. firm; solid; stable; lit. lasting

Built from

• ther — root · stand firm; last
  From *steh₂-, the root of 'stand' and 'stay' across Indo-European. The concrete image of standing firm underlies both 'old/lasting' and 'elder'.

Etymology. From Sanskrit sthavira (स्थविर), meaning 'old, ancient, firm', itself from the Indo-European root *steh₂- 'to stand, be firm' (cognate with English 'stay', German 'stehen', Latin 'stare'). The sense develops from 'standing firm' to 'long-lasting' and thence to 'elder' — one who has stood the test of time. In the Sangha, a thera is formally a monk of at least ten years' standing, marked by seniority and stability.

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

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