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vatteyyanti
vattati
3rd person plural optative (vatteyya- + anti)
- vattati (pr): proceeds; continues; goes forward; practices
- vattati (pr): exists; occurs; happens; takes place
- vattati (pr): fares on (in); walks (in); continues (in); adheres (to)
- vattati (pr): (of power) wields; exercises
- vatteti (pr): (of power) wields (over); displays; lit. causes to proceed
- vatteti (pr): sets in motion; makes go on; causes to revolve; lit. causes to proceed
- vatteti (pr): causes; makes happen; initiates; lit. causes to proceed
Built from
- vatt — root · turn, proceed
Root denoting circular or rolling motion, whence 'to go forward', 'to practice', 'to revolve'. Cognate with Latin volvere (roll, turn), English wheel.
- e — ending · thematic vowel
Thematic vowel of the present stem.
- yya — ending · optative marker
Optative suffix marking potential, wish, or conditional action.
- anti — ending · 3rd plural
Third person plural present/optative ending, bringing the plurality of agents into view.
Analysis. vatteyyanti = vatte-yya-anti: optative stem vatte-yya (from √vatt-) + 3rd plural ending -anti. The form contracts to vatteyyanti in ordinary speech.
Etymology. √vatt is cognate with Latin volvere (turn, roll) and English wheel; the root sense is 'to turn' or 'roll', hence 'to proceed in a course' and 'to practice' (following a path). The optative mood marks potential or wished-for action.