noun
Uncommon
Sanskrit
SANSK-riht
Sanskrit (noun) means an ancient Indo-European language of South Asia, the classical and liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Example: “The mantra is chanted in Sanskrit.”
noun
1
An ancient Indo-European language of South Asia, the classical and liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
"The mantra is chanted in Sanskrit."
"She studied Sanskrit to read the original Vedic texts."
adj
1
Relating to the Sanskrit language or its literature.
"The professor specialises in Sanskrit grammar."
How to use Sanskrit
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe classical sacred language of ancient India.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit texts
Sanskrit grammar
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Etymology
A learned borrowing via Hindi from Sanskrit saṃskṛta, meaning "refined" or "perfected" — describing it as a polished, cultivated language.
Frequently asked questions
What does “Sanskrit” mean?
The word “Sanskrit” means an ancient Indo-European language of South Asia, the classical and liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. In plain terms, the classical sacred language of ancient India.
How do you pronounce “Sanskrit”?
“Sanskrit” is pronounced SANSK-riht (/ˈsænskɹɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “Sanskrit” in a sentence?
Here is “Sanskrit” used in a sentence: “The mantra is chanted in Sanskrit.”
What part of speech is “Sanskrit”?
Depending on how it is used, “Sanskrit” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “Sanskrit” come from?
The word “Sanskrit” comes from Sanskrit. A learned borrowing via Hindi from Sanskrit saṃskṛta, meaning "refined" or "perfected" — describing it as a polished, cultivated language.
Is “Sanskrit” a common word?
“Sanskrit” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Sanskrit” have?
“Sanskrit” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an ancient Indo-European language of South Asia, the classical and liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
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