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paññā

pañña

masc nom pl of pañña (adj); fem nom sg of pañña (adj); fem nom pl of pañña (adj); nt nom pl of pañña (adj); …

1. pañña (adj): wise; intelligent; learned; knowledgeable; skilled; lit. with actively knowing
2. paññā (fem): wisdom; knowledge; understanding; insight; distinctive knowledge; lit. active knowledge
3. paññā (fem): with wisdom; with intelligence; with understanding; lit. active knowledge

Built from

• pa — prefix · forth, distinctly
  Forward movement intensifying; knowledge that steps forth into clarity and manifestation.
• ñ — root · know
  √jñā (cognate with Sanskrit jñā, Greek gignōskō, English know). The root carries the sense of direct perceiving and understanding.

Etymology. From pa- (forth, distinctly) + √jñā (know), literally 'knowing that steps forth'. Cognate with Sanskrit prajñā (wisdom, insight) and Greek gignōskō (know). The prefix pa- gives the sense of knowledge made manifest or actively expressed, distinguishing pañña from mere awareness.

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

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