The Pali Text Society's

Pali-English
Dictionary

EDITED BY

T.W. RHYS DAVIDS F.B.A. D.Sc. Ph.D. LL.D. D.Litt

and WILLIAM STEDE Ph.D.

[1921-1925]

This version of the PTS Dictionary is (ultimately) derived from the digitized on-line version which is based on the 1921 Rhys Davids and Stede edition.

It was extracted from Digital Pali Reader by Ven. Nandiya, and some additional corrections and improvements have been made. Even a cursory glance will reveal that many errors remain. For example, the greek roots, almost unreadable even in the paper edition, are ascii-garbage. Some characters have been incorrectly digitized, but this is not common. If in doubt, check the paper edition.

Both the DPR version, and this version, have been created without permission, however, all english translations by the PTS have been released from copyright, hence, it should be legal to use.

Pāli alphabet used in this dictionary:

a ā i ī u ū e o ṁ k kh g gh ṅ c ch j jh ñ ṭ ṭh ḍ ḍh ṇ t th d dh n p ph b bh m y r l ḷ v s h

Note:

ŋ is replaced with ṁ in this edition.

A. LIST OF THE CHIEF BOOKS consulted for Vocabulary
(with Abbreviations).

1. PALI BOOKS.

1^a Canonical.

Anguttara-Nikaya 5 vols. PTS. 18S5—1900 (A).

Buddha-Vaṁsa PTS. 1882 (Bu).

Cariyā-Piṭaka PTS. 1882 (Cp.).

Dhammapada PTS. 1914 (Dh).

Dhamma-Sangaṇi PTS. 1885 (Dhs).

Digha-Nikāya 3 vols. PTS. (D).

Iti-vuttaka PTS. 1890 (It.).

Kathā-Vatthu 2 vols. PTS. 1894, 95 (Kvu).

Khuddaka-Pāṭha PTS. 1915 (Kh).

Majjhima-Nikāya 3 vols. PTS. 1887—1902 (M).

Niddesa I Maha° 2 vols. PTS. 1916, 17 (Nd1).

Niddesa II Culla° PTS. 191S (Nd2).

Paṭisambhidāmagga 2 vols. PTS. 1905, 1907 (Ps).

Peta-Vatthu PTS. 1889 (Pv).

Puggala-Paññatti PTS. 1883 (Pug).

Saṁyutta-Nikāya 5 vols. PTS. 1884—1898 (S).

Sutta-Nipāta PTS. 1913 (Sn).

Thera-therīgāthā PTS. 1883 (Th 1) & (Th 2).

Udāna PTS. 1S85 (Ud).

Vibhanga PTS. 1904 (Vbh).

Vimāna-Vatthu PTS. 1886 (Vv).

Vinaya-Piṭaka 5 vols. London 1S79—83 (Vin).

1^b Post-Canonical.

Atthasālinī, PTS. 1897 (DhsA).

Buddhadatta's Manuals, PTS. 1915 (Bdhd).

Dāṭhāvaṁsa, J PTS. 1884 (Dāvs).

Dhammapada Commentary, 4 vols. PTS. 1906—14 (DhA).

Dīpavaṁsa, London 1879 (Dpvs).

Jātaka, 6 vols. London 1877—90 (J).

Khuddaka-Pāṭha Cnmmentary, PTS. 1915 (KhA).

Mahāvaṁsa, PTS. 1908 (Mhvs).

Mahā-Bodhi-Vaṁsa, PTS. 1891 (Mhbv).

Milindapañha, London 1880 (Miln).

Netti-Pakaraṇa, PTS. 1902 (Nett).

Pañca-gati-dīpana, J PTS. 1884 (Pgdp).

Peta-Vatthu Commentary, PTS. 1894 (PvA).

Puggala-Paññatti Commentary, J PTS. 1914 (Pug A).

Saddhammopāyana, J PTS. 1S87 (Sdhp).

Sumangala-Vilāsinī, vol. I, PTS. 1886 (DA 1).

Sutta-Nipāta Commentary, 2 vols. PTS. 1916—17 (SnA).

Therīgāthā Commentary, PTS. 1891 (ThA).

Vimāna-Vatthu Commentary, PTS. 1901 (VvA).

Visuddhi-Magga, 2 vols. PTS. 1920—21 (Vism).

Note. The systemadopted in quotations of passages fromPali text is that proposed in J PTS. 1909, pp. 385—87, with thismodification that Peta-vatthu (Pv) is quoted by canto and verse, and Culla-Niddesa (Nd2) by number of word in "Explanatory Matter".

2. BUDDHIST SANSKRIT.

Avadāna-śataka, ed. J. S. Speyer (Bibl. Buddhica III), 2 vols., St. Petersbourg 1906. (Av. Ś.).
Divyâvadāna, ed. Cowell & Neill, Cambridge 1886. (Divy).
Jātaka-mālā, ed. H. Kern (Haward Or. Ser. I), Boston 1891. (Jtm).
Lalita-vistara, ed. S. Lefmann, I. Halle 1902. (Lai. V.).
Mahā-vastu, ed. É. Senart, 3 vols., Paris 1882—1897.
Śikṣā-samuccaya. Ed. C. Bendall. St. Petersburg, 1902 (Śikṣ).

3. TRANSLATIONS.

Buddh. Manual of Psychological Ethics (trsl. of the Dhamma-sangani) by Mrs. Rhys Davids (R. As. Soc. Trsl. Fund XII), London 1900. (Dhs trsl.).
Compendium of Philosophy (trsl. of the Abhidhamm' attha-sangaha) by S. Z. Aung andMrs. Rhys Davids, PTS. Trsl. 1910. (Cpd.).
Dialogues of the Buddha, trsl. by T. W. and C. A. F. Rhys Davids, London I. 1899; II. 1910; III. 1921. (Dial.).
Expositor (trsl. of the Attha-sālinī), by Maung Tin, PTS. Trsl. 1920, 21.
Kathāvatthu trsl. ("Points of Controversy"), by Aung and Mrs. Rhys Davids, PTS. Trsl. 1915. (Kvu trsl.).
Kindred Sayings (Saṁyutta Nikāya I), by Mrs. Rhys Davids, PTS. Trsl. 1917. (KS.).
Mahāvaṁsa trsl. by W. Geiger, PTS. Trsl. 1912.
Manual of a Mystic (Yogâvacara), trs. by F. L. Woodward, PTS. Trsl. 1916. (Mystic).
Neumann, K. E., Lieder der Mönche und Nonnen, Berlin 1899.
Psalms of the Brethren (trsl. Mrs. Rhys Davids), PTS. Trsl. 1913.
„ „ „ Sisters ( „ „ „ „ ), „ „ 1909.
Questions of Milinda (trsl. T. W. Rhys Davids), SBE. vols. 35, 36.
Vinaya Texts (trsl. Rhys Davids & Oldenberg), „ „ „ , 13, 17, 20.

4. GRAMMATICAL & OTHER LITERATURE;
PERIODICALS, ETC.

Abhidhānappadīpikā, ed. W. Subhuti, Colombo¹ 1883. (Abhp.).
Andersen, D., A Pali Reader, 2 pts; Copenhagen 1901, 1907.
Aufrecht, Th., Halāyudha's Abhidhāna-ratna-mālā, London 1861.
Brugmann, K., Kurze vergleichende Grammatik der indogerm. Sprachen, Strass-burg 1902.
Childers, R. C, A Dictionary of the Pali Language, London 1874.
Geiger, W., Pali Literatur und Sprache, Strassburg 1916. (Geiger, P. Gr.).
Grassmann, W., Wörterbuch zum Rig Veda, Leipzig 1873.
Journal of the American Oriental Society (J A0S.).
              „ Asiatique, Paris (J. As.).
            „ of the Pāli Text Society (J PTS.).
               „ „ „ Royal Asiatic Society, London (J RAS.).
Kaccāyana-ppakaraṇa, ed. & trsl. Senart (J. As. 1871) (Kacc).
Kern, H., Toevocgselen op 't Woordenboek van Childers; 2 pts (Verhandelingen Kon. Ak. van Wetenschappen te
Amsterdam N. R. XVI, 5), Amsterdam 1916. (Toev.).
Kuhn's Zeitschrift für vergleichende Sprachforschung (KZ.).
Mahāvyutpatti, ed. Mironow (Bibl. Buddhica XIII) St. Pétersbourg 1910, 11. (Mvyut).
Muller, Ed., Simplified Grammar of the Pali Language, London 1884.
Trenckner, V., Notes on the Milindapañho, in J PTS. 1908, 102 sq.
Uhlenbeck, H., Kurzgefasstes Etym. Wörterbuch d. Altindischen Sprache, Amsterdam 1898.
Walde, A., Lateinisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, Heidelberg2 1910.
Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenlāndischen Gesellschaft, Leipzig 1847 sq. (ZDMS.).

B. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.

1. Titles Of Books (the no. refers to section of A).

A Anguttara. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1a

Abhp Abhidhānappadīpikā. . . . 4

Ap Apadāna. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1a

Av. Ś. Avadana-śataka. . . . . . . . . 2

Bdhd Buddhadatta. . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Brethren: see Psalms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Bu Buddha-vaṁsa. . . . . . . . . . 1a

Cp Cariya-pitaka . . . . . . . . . . . .1a

Cpd Compendium . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

D Digha. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .la

Dāvs Daṭha-vaṁsa . . . . . . . . . . . . 1b

Dh Dhammapada. . . . . . . . . . . 1a

Dhs Dhammasangani. . . . . . . . .1a

Dhs trsl. Atthasālini. . . . . . . . . . . .3

Dial. Dialogues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Divy Divyāvadana. . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Dpvs Dipavamsa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1b

Halāyudha: see Aufrecht . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

It Itivuttaka. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1a

J Jataka. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1b

J.A.O.S. Journal Amer. Or. Soc. . . . . . 4

J.As. „ Asiatique. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

J.P.T.S. „ Pali Text Soc. . . . . . . . . . . . 4

J.R.A.S. „ Royal Asiatic Soc. . . . . . . . 4

Jtm Jatakamālā . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Kacc Kaccāyana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Kh Khuddakapatha . . . . . . . . .1a

ḰS Kindred Sayings . . . . . . . . . 3

Kvu Kathavatthu . . . . . . . . . . . .1a

KZ Kuhn's Zeitschrift . . . . . . . .4

Lal.V. Lalita Vistara . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Mystic: see Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Nd1 Mahāniddesa . . . . . . . . . . . .1a

Nd2 Cullaniddesa . . . . . . . . . . . 1a

Nett Netti-pakarana . . . . . . . . . . 1b

M Majjhima . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1a

Mhbv Mahābodhi-varjsa . . . . . . . .1b

Mhvs Mahāvarjsa . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1b

Miln Milinda-pañha . . . . . . . . . .1b

M Vastu Mahā-vastu . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Mvyut Mahāvyutpatti . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Ps Paṭisambhidā-magga . . . . . . 1a

Pug Puggala-paññatti. . . . . . . . . . .la

Pv Petavatthu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .la

Pgdp Pañcagati-dīpana . . . . . . . .1b

S Saṁyutta. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1a

SBE Sacred Books of the East. . . . .3

Sdhp Saddhammopāyana. . . . . . . .lb

Siks Siksasamuccaya . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Sisters: see Psalms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Sn Sutta-nipāta. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .la

Th 1 Theragathā . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1a

Th 2 Therīgatha . . . . . . . . . . . . . .la

Toev. Toevoegselen . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Ud Udāna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1a

Vbh Vibhanga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1a

Vin Vinaya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1a

Vism Visuddhi-magga . . . . . . . .1b

Vv Vimānavatthu . . . . . . . . . 1d

ZDMG. Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenlāndischen Gesellschaft . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2. General & grammatical terms.

A in combⁿ with a Title-letter

(e.g. DhA) = Commentary

(on Dh).

abl. ablative

abs. absolute(ly)

abstr. abstract

ace. accusative

act. active

add. addition

adj. adjective

adv. adverb

Ags. Anglo-Saxon

aor. aorist

appl. applied

art. article

attr. attribute

Av. Avesta

BB Burmese MSS

bef. before

BSk. Buddhist Sanskrit

C(&Cy) Commentary (when cited in explⁿ of a Text passage).

caus. causative

cert. certain

coll. collective

comb^d, combⁿcombined, combination

comp. comparative, comparison, composition

cons. consonant

corr. correct(ed)

correl. correlation, correlative

cp. compare

cpd. compound

dat. dative

den. denominative

der. derived, derivation

des. desiderative

dial. dialect(ical)

diff. different

dist. distinct, distinguished

E. English

e.g. for instance

encl. enclitic

ep. epithet

esp. especially

etym. etymology

exc. except

excl. exclamation, exclusive

expl. explanation, explained

f. feminine

fig. figurative(ly)

foil. following

form. formation

fr. from

freq. frequently, Frequentative

fut. future

Gall. Gallic

gen. genitive

ger. gerund

Ger. German

Goth. Gothic

Gr. Greek

gram. grammar, °atical

grd. gerundive

ibid. at the same passage

id. the same

id.p. identical passage

i.e. that is

i.g. in general

imper. imperative

impers. impersonal

impf. imperfect

Ind. Index

ind. indicative

indecl. indeclinable

indef. indefinite

inf. infinitive

instr. instrumental

interr. interrogative

intrs. intransitive

iter. iterative

Lat. Latin

1.c. loco citato

lit. literal(ly), literary

Lit. Lithuanian

loc. locative

m. masculine

med. medium (middle)

N. Name

n. noun, note

nom. nominative

Np. Name of person

Npl. „ „ place

nt. neuter

num. numeral

Obulg. Old-bulgarian

Ohg. Old-high-german

Oicel. „ -icelandic

Oir. „ -irish

onom. onomatopoetic

opp. opposed, opposite

ord. ordinal, ordinary

orig. original(ly)

P. Pali

part. particle

pass passive

perf. perfect

pers. personal

pi. plural

pop. popular

poss. possessive

pot. potential

pp. past participle

ppr. present „

prec. preceding

pred. predicative

pref. prefix

prep. preposition

pres. present

pret. preterite

Prk. Prakrit

prob. probably

pron. pronoun

pt. part

PTS. Pali Text Society

q.v. quod vide (which see)

ref. reference, referred

refl. reflexive

rel. relation, relative

sep. separate(ly)

sg. singular

Sk. Sanskrit

sq. and following

SS. Singhalese MSS.

ster. stereotype

suff. suffix

sup. superlative

s.v. sub voce (under the word

mentioned)

syn. synonym(ous)

T. Text

trans. transitive

trsl. translated, translation

t.t. technical term

t.t.g. „ „ in grammar

v. verse

var. variant, various

var.lect. various reading

voc. vocative

Wtb. Wörterbuch

3. Typographical.

^ is a modifier of an entry to append to a search term when using browser Find tool (Win: F3 or Ctrl+F), it’s required to avoid confusion with the same words used inside other articles.
*(s)uel indicates a (reconstructed or conjectured) Indogermanic root.

*Sk means, that the Sanskritword is constructed after the Paliword; or as Sk. formis only found in lexicographical lists.
â: the cap over a vowel indicates that the a is the result of a syncope a + a (e.g. khuddânukhudda), whereas ā represents the proper ā, either pure or contracted with a preceding a (khīṇāsava = khīṇa + āsava).
° represents a part of a compound; sometimes also an easily supplemented part of a word.
> indicates an etymological relation or line of development between the words mentioned.
∼ and ≈ means "at similar" or "at identical, parallel passages".

The meaning of all other abbreviations may easily be inferred from the context.