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satto

satta

masc nom sg of satta (noun); masc nom sg of satta (pp)

1. being; living being; creature
2. bright principal, sattva (of the Sāṃkhya)
3. clung; stuck; attached (to)
4. cursed; sworn

Built from

• satta — root · cling; bind
  From √sañj. The past participle sense 'clung, attached' is primary; the nominal sense 'being, creature' derives from that which clings to existence. Cognate with Latin sancire (to make sacred by binding oath) and Sanskrit sañj-.

Etymology. From √sañj 'cling, attach, bind' (cognate with Latin sancire 'make sacred by binding oath', Sanskrit sañj- 'adhere'). The sense 'being' derives from 'that which clings (to existence)', a metaphor for the animate principle bound to saṃsāra. The sense 'sworn, cursed' reflects the original meaning of binding oneself by oath.

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

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