kvattho
Pali
Alternative forms
Alternative forms
- 𑀓𑁆𑀯𑀢𑁆𑀣𑁄 (Brahmi script)
- क्वत्थो (Devanagari script)
- ক্ৰত্থো (Bengali script)
- ක්වත්ථො (Sinhalese script)
- ကွတ္ထော (Burmese script)
- กฺวตฺโถ or กวัตโถ (Thai script)
- ᨠ᩠ᩅᨲ᩠ᨳᩮᩣ (Tai Tham script)
- ກ຺ວຕ຺ໂຖ or ກວັຕໂຖ (Lao script)
- ក្វត្ថោ (Khmer script)
Etymology
ko (“what”) + attho (“use”)
Phrase
kvattho
- What is the use (of something)
- c. 500 AD, Kaccāyana, Pālivyākaraṇaṃ [Pali Grammar] (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.
- 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
ka˚ in Pali Text Society (1921–1925), Pali-English Dictionary, London: Chipstead. (licensed under CC-BY-NC)