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upavadeyyuṁ

upavadati

3rd person plural optative (potential mood) of upavadati

1. should approach and revile
2. might reproach
3. could blame or criticize

Built from

• upa — prefix · toward, up close to
  Indicates approach and proximity; here suggests reproaching someone face-to-face or directly targeting them with speech.
• vad — root · speak, say
  Common root for speech and utterance; cognate with Latin vādēs and related to English 'word'.
• e — stem · optative marker
  Marks the optative mood, expressing wish, possibility, or potential action.
• yyuṁ — ending · 3rd plural optative
  Third person plural ending in the optative mood, conveying 'they might/should/could' perform the action.

Analysis. upa- (near, close to, approach) + vad- (speak, say) + -eyyuṁ (optative marker). The prefix upa- conveys approaching someone with words of reproach or blame.

Etymology. √vad (speak) cognate with Latin vādēs (pledge, speak). The prefix upa- shifts the root's sense from bare speaking to speaking directed at someone, typically with adverse intent.

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

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