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deseti

pr 3rd sg of deseti (verb)

1. preaches; teaches; instructs; explains (something to); lit. causes to point out
2. (vinaya) confesses; admits (to)
3. (vinaya) appoints; allocates; designates (to); lit. causes to point out

Built from

• des — root · point, show
  From √dis. The concrete image of pointing with the hand becomes showing, teaching, and explaining.
• e — stem · causative
  The -e- suffix forms a causative present stem, turning 'to point' into 'to cause to point out', hence 'to teach'.
• ti — ending · 3rd singular
  The -ti ending marks 3rd person singular present indicative active voice.

Etymology. From √dis (to point, show), with causative suffix -e-, giving the sense 'causes to point out'; hence 'teaches' and 'explains'. The root is cognate with Sanskrit diś-, Latin dicere 'to say' (which originally meant 'to point'), and English diction. The spatial imagery of 'pointing' extends into 'showing' and 'teaching'.

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

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