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yāvadattho

yāvadattha

masc nom sg of yāvadattha (adj)

1. as much as one needs; as much as one wants

Built from

• yāva — root · as much as
  Correlative pronoun stem from ya- 'which, as'. Carries the sense of extent or measure, often introducing comparative or proportional clauses.
• dattha — stem · given, apportioned
  Past participle of dapeti (causative of √dā 'give'). Refers to what has been given or allotted, rendering the quantity as 'measured out' or 'appropriate'.

Analysis. yāva- (correlative pronoun stem, 'as much as') + dattha (past participle of dapeti, 'given'), meaning 'as much as has been given' or 'as much as needed'.

Etymology. yāva from the correlative root ya- (as, which; cognate with Latin qualis through Indo-European *kwo-); dattha from √dā 'give' (cognate with English deed, Latin dare, Greek didōmi). The compound expresses measured quantity by reference to what is apportioned or fitting.

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

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