sutta.stream

‹ Back to the text

vasā

vasa

masc nom pl of vasa (noun); masc instr sg of vasa (noun); masc abl sg of vasa (noun); masc voc sg of vasa (noun); …

  1. vasa (masc): wish; desire; will
  2. vasa (masc): control; authority; power; mastery (over)
  3. vasa (masc): financial ability; lit. power
  4. vasa (root): (gram) √vas (live)
  5. vasanta (prp): living; staying
  6. vasā (fem): grease; oil
  7. vasi (aor): lived; stayed (in)
  8. vasā (fem): young cow
  9. …

Etymology. From √vas (to dwell, live, stay). The sense 'grease' may derive from the notion of that which clings or adheres (like residue of dwelling), though the connection is uncertain. Cognate with Sanskrit vāsā (grease, odour), and distantly with English 'wise' and Latin 'vidēre' (to see, know — from the root 'to stay/abide in the mind'). The 'young cow' sense is a separate, likely onomatopoetic formation.

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

Lite mode — plain HTML for e-readers and old browsers. Full version