जातु

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Sanskrit

[edit]

Alternative scripts

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

The other meanings come from the original sense of "by birth", which is from a neuter adverbial accusative of Proto-Indo-Iranian *ȷ́aHtúš, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵn̥h₁-tu-, from *ǵenh₁- (to be born). Equivalent to जन् (jan, root) +‎ -तु (-tu). Compare a parallel formation in Latin nātū, and English nature.[1]

Pronunciation

[edit]

Adverb

[edit]

जातु (jātu)[2]

  1. (Vedic) from birth, innately
  2. (Vedic, Classical Sanskrit) at all, ever
  3. possibly, perhaps (typically preceded by अपि (api) or followed by चिद् (cid))
  4. some day, once upon a time

Usage notes

[edit]

When preceded by (na) in न जातु (na jātu), the meaning is "not at all" or "never".

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Mayrhofer, Manfred (1956) Kurzgefasstes Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindischen [A Concise Etymological Sanskrit Dictionary]‎[1] (in German), volume 1, Heidelberg: Carl Winter Universitätsverlag, page 428
  2. ^ Monier Williams (1899) “जातु”, in A Sanskrit–English Dictionary, [], new edition, Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 418.