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vijjā

vijjanta

masc voc sg of vijjanta (prp); nt voc sg of vijjanta (prp); fem nom sg of vijjā (noun); fem nom pl of vijjā (noun); …

1. vijjanta (prp): existing; lit. being found
2. vijjā (fem): knowledge; wisdom; understanding
3. vijjā (fem): science; art; branch of knowledge; lit. understanding
4. vijjā (fem): spell; magic; sorcery; lit. understanding
5. vijji (aor): existed; was found; was present

Built from

• vi — prefix · apart, asunder
  Prefix denoting separation and clarity. Transforms the root into knowing that discriminates and sees distinctly.
• jñā — root · know, understand
  Indo-European root *wid- meaning to see or know. Cognates: Sanskrit jñā, Greek οἶδα (oida), English wit, German wissen. Concrete sense of seeing becomes knowing.
• ā — ending · feminine nominative
  Feminine nominal suffix. Marks the noun as feminine singular nominative or plural nominative form.

Etymology. From vi- (apart, asunder, in different directions—clarity) + √jñā (know, understand). The prefix vi- gives the root the sense of seeing or knowing distinctly, analytically. Cognate with Sanskrit vidyā, Greek οἶδα (oida) 'I know' from the same Indo-European root *wid- (see, know); English wit, German wissen. The concrete image of 'knowing apart' or 'discriminating knowledge' underlies all uses: wisdom as clear discernment, science as systematic understanding, art as skilled knowing, and in Buddhist contexts vijjā as the higher knowledge (abhiññā) that liberates.

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

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