kvattho

Pali

Alternative forms

Alternative scripts

• 𑀓𑁆𑀯𑀢𑁆𑀣𑁄 (Brahmi script)
• क्वत्थो (Devanagari script)
• ক্ৰত্থো (Bengali script)
• ක්‍වත්‍ථො (Sinhalese script)
• ကွတ္ထော or ၵွတ္ထေႃ or ၵွတ်ထေႃ (Burmese script)
• กฺวตฺโถ or กวัตโถ (Thai script)
• ᨠ᩠ᩅᨲ᩠ᨳᩮᩣ (Tai Tham script)
• ກ຺ວຕ຺ໂຖ or ກວັຕໂຖ (Lao script)
• ក្វត្ថោ (Khmer script)
• 𑄇𑄳𑄤𑄖𑄴𑄗𑄮 (Chakma script)

Etymology

ko (“what”) +‎ attho (“use”)

Phrase

kvattho

1. What is the use (of something)
   • c. 500 AD, Kaccāyana, Pālivyākaraṇaṃ [Pali Grammar]‎^[1] (overall work in Pali), page 2; republished as Satish Chandra Acharyya Vidyabhusana, editor, Kaccayana's Pali Grammar (edited in Devanagari character and translated into English), Calcutta, Bengal: Mahabodhi Society, 1901:

     अक्खर इच्‍चनेन क्वत्‍थो? अत्थो अक्खर-सञ्ञातो

     Akkhara iccanena kvattho? Attho akkhara-saññāto.

     What is the meaning of this, viz. a 'letter'? The meaning comes from being skilled in letters.

2. Why do you use this word? (The word is usually quoted.)

Usage notes

The thing whose use is queried goes in the instrumental case.

References

Pali Text Society (1921–1925) “ka˚”, in Pali-English Dictionary‎, London: Chipstead