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yāvadeva

yāva

indeclinable (sandhi form: yāva + eva)

1. yāva (ind): as long as; as far as; so much so; up to; until; from… to
2. yāva (ind): how; how much; how well
3. yāvadeva (sandhi): as much as; only as much as; only as far as
4. yāvant (adj): as many as; however many; lit. having so much quality

Built from

• yāva — root · as far as, up to
  An old indefinite stem related to reaching or measuring extent; used to mark the boundary or limit of something.
• eva — stem · just, only
  An intensifying particle from *swa (self), used to restrict or emphasize focus — here reinforcing the limitative sense of yāva.

Analysis. yāva 'as far as, up to' + eva 'just, only' — a limiting qualifier meaning 'only to the extent of' or 'merely so much as', often emphasizing the restriction of a measure or condition.

Etymology. yāva is an old interrogative-indefinite stem (related to Sanskrit yāvant- 'as many as', from the root *yā- meaning 'go' or 'reach'), and eva (from *swa 'self') serves as an intensifying particle meaning 'just' or 'only', together forming a restrictive compound common in logical and narrative contexts.

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

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