Upanishad etymology

Etymology

The term "Upanishad" is derived from two Sanskrit words:

  • "Up" - near, close to
  • "Ni" - down
  • "Sad" - to sit

Meaning

Literally, Upanishad means "sitting near" or "sitting at the feet of." In the context of the ancient Indian tradition, it refers to the esoteric teachings that were transmitted orally from guru (teacher) to shishya (disciple) during secluded study sessions.

Origin

The Upanishads emerged as part of the larger body of Vedic literature, which was composed by ancient sages in India around the second millennium BCE. They are generally believed to have been composed between the 8th and 5th centuries BCE.

The Upanishads developed as philosophical commentaries on the Vedas, which were the sacred hymns and rituals of the early Aryans. They gradually evolved into independent scriptures that explored the nature of reality, the human soul, and the path to liberation.

Significance

The Upanishads are considered one of the most important philosophical and spiritual texts in the world. They have had a profound influence on Indian thought and spirituality, as well as on Western philosophy and religion.

The key teachings of the Upanishads include:

  • The unity of all existence (Brahman)
  • The immortal nature of the soul (Atman)
  • The importance of detachment, meditation, and self-inquiry
  • The path to liberation from the cycle of rebirth (moksha)

Upanishad relate terms

  • nether

    Etymology The word nether is derived from the Old English word neoðera meaning lo

  • lower

    Etymology The word lower comes from the Old English word lāw meaning low This wo

  • assess

    Etymology Etymology refers to the study of the origin and evolution of words and the chan

  • assiduous

    Etymology Latin assiduus constant diligent Proto Indo European h₂ses to se

  • assize

    Etymology From Old French assise from Late Latin assīsa derived from Latin assidēre

  • banshee

    Etymology Old Irish ben síde literally woman of the fairy mound Meaning A

  • beset

    Etymology Old French beset besettre beset from Old English besetten to beset a

  • cathedra

    Etymology From Latin cathedra from Greek καθέδρα kathedra meaning seat or

  • cathedral

    Etymology The word cathedral comes from the Late Latin word cathedralis which is de

  • chair

    Etymology The English word chair comes from the Old English word cæˆre which is a

  • cosset

    Etymology Middle English cossen cosset Old French cousser cosset Vulgar Latin con

  • dissident

    Etymology The word dissident originates from the Latin word dis sentire meaning to

  • dodecahedron

    Etymology and Origin The word dodecahedron comes from two Greek words Dodeca meani

  • Eisteddfod

    Etymology The word eisteddfod is derived from the Old Welsh words eistedd to sit a

  • ephedra

    Etymology The word ephedra is derived from the Greek words epi upon and hedra se

  • ersatz

    Etymology German from Middle High German ersatz compensation substitute from erset

  • icosahedron

    Etymology The word icosahedron comes from the Greek words eikosi meaning twenty

  • inset

    Etymology Latin inserere to insert Meaning Literally to place or fix into somet

  • insidious

    Etymology The word insidious is derived from the Latin word insidiosus meaning craf

  • nest

    Etymology The word nest comes from the Old English noun nest which meant a place wh

  • niche

    Etymology French niche alcove recess from Italian nicchia niche recess probably

  • Nick

    Etymology Derived from the Greek name Νικόλαος Nikolaos meaning victory of

  • nidicolous

    Etymology The word nidicolous comes from Latin nidus nest colus inhabiting

  • nidification

    Etymology Latin nidificare meaning to make a nest Nid from Latin nidus mea

  • nidus

    Etymology The word nidus is derived from the Latin word nīdus meaning nest Mean

  • obsess

    Etymology Latin ob sessum Meaning To be preoccupied with or fixated upon a parti

  • octahedron

    Etymology The word octahedron comes from the Greek words okta ὀκτά meaning e

  • piezo

    Etymology The word piezo is derived from the Greek word piezein which means to pre

  • piezoelectric

  • polyhedron

    Etymology Ancient Greek polus many hedron base seat Meaning A polyhedron

  • possess

    Etymology From Middle English possessen from Old French possessir from Latin possess

  • preside

    Etymology and Origin of Preside Preside comes from the Latin word praesidēre which

  • reside

    Etymology The word reside comes from the Latin verb residēre which means to sit do

  • saddle

    Etymology Middle English sadel from Old English sadol sadul Proto West Germanic sa

  • sanhedrim

    Etymology The word Sanhedrin is derived from the Greek word sunedrion which means

  • seance

    Etymology The word séance comes from the French word séance which means session

  • seat

    Etymology Old English sēte Proto Germanic satuz Proto Indo European root so

  • sedan

    Etymology The word sedan has its origins in the Italian city of Sedan located in the

  • sedate

    Etymology of sedate Origin Late Latin sedatus from Latin sedare to calm settle so

  • sedentary

    Etymology Latin sedentarius adjective Late Latin sedentarius noun Meaning

  • sederunt

    Etymology and Meaning Sederunt is a Latin word meaning they sat It is the past tense

  • sediment

    Etymology of sediment Derived from the Latin word sedimentum meaning a settling

  • sessile

    Etymology The word sessile originates from the Latin word sessilis which means sit

  • session

    Etymology Latin sessio meaning a sitting From sedere meaning to sit Meanin

  • sett

    Etymology The word sett has multiple origins and meanings depending on its specific us

  • settle

    Etymology Middle English settelen from Old English setlan from Proto Germanic satli

  • settle

    Etymology Middle English settelen from Old English setlan from Proto Germanic satli

  • siege

    Etymology Middle French siege from Old French siege meaning seat Latin sedes

  • sitz bath

    Etymology The term sitz bath is a combination of two German words Sitz Meaning sit

  • sitzkrieg

    Etymology From French Sitzkrieg literally sitting war from German Sitzkrieg liter

  • size

    Etymology Old English siȝe Middle English sise Late Latin sīsus meaning amoun

  • soil

    Etymology The word soil originates from the Old French word soil which itself derive

  • Somerset

    Etymology Old English Sumorsæte Middle English Somersete Meaning Summer people

  • soot

    Etymology Soot comes from the following sources Old English sot meaning blackne

  • subside

    Etymology Latin subsidere meaning to settle down sub under sidere to sit

  • subsidy

    Etymology The word subsidy comes from the Late Latin word subsidium meaning support

  • supersede

    Etymology The word supersede comes from the Latin supersedere meaning to sit above

  • surcease

    Etymology Old French sursoir surseir Latin supersedēre to sit upon stay rest

  • tanist

    Etymology Old Irish tánaiste Proto Celtic tanistī Meaning A deputy or sec

  • tetrahedron

    Etymology Derived from Greek tetra four hedron base Meaning A three di

  • Upanishad

    Etymology The term Upanishad is derived from two Sanskrit words Up near close t

  • above

    Etymology The word above originates from the Old English word abufan which in turn

  • assume

    Etymology refers to the history and origin of words including their roots derivations a

  • Aufklarung

    Etymology French Aufklärung German Aufklärung English Enlightenment Meanin

  • eave

    Etymology The word eave comes from the Old English word efese which means edge or

  • eavesdropper

    Etymology The word eavesdropper originated in the 14th century from the Old English wo

  • hyphen

    Etymology Middle English iphen yphen c 1400 from Latin hyphen from Greek hyphḗ

  • hypo

    Etymology The word hypo comes from the Greek word hypo which means under or bel

  • hypochondria

    Etymology Greek ὑποχόνδριον hupokhondrion under the cartilage Mean

  • hypotenuse

    Etymology The word hypotenuse is derived from the Greek words hypo below or un

  • hypothalamus

    Etymology The term hypothalamus is derived from two Greek roots hypo meaning unde

  • hypothesis

    Etymology Derived from Ancient Greek hypothesis ὑπόθεσις meaning a placi

  • hypsi

    Etymology and Meaning The term hypsi is derived from the Greek word ὑψί hypsí

  • hypso

    Etymology The word hypso is derived from the Greek word hypsos which means height

  • opal

    Etymology and Meaning The word opal is derived from the Latin word opalus which in

  • open

    Etymology The word etymology comes from the Greek word etymon meaning true sense o

  • often

    Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have cha

  • resuscitate

    Etymology The word resuscitate comes from the Latin word resuscitare meaning to res

  • somber

    Etymology Somber comes from the Old French word sombrier meaning to be dark or glo

  • souffle

    Etymology The word soufflé comes from the French verb souffler which means to blo

  • source

    Etymology The word source derives from the Old French word source which in turn come

  • soutane

    Etymology From French soutane from Late Latin sotanula diminutive of sotana from Med

  • souvenir

    Etymology The word souvenir is derived from the French word souvenir which means t

  • subject

    Etymology The word subject derives from the Late Latin subjectus meaning placed und

  • sublime

    Etymology The word sublime is derived from the Latin word sublimis which means loft

  • subpoena

    Etymology From Latin sub poena under penalty from sub under poena penalty

  • substance

    Etymology The word substance is derived from the Latin word substantia which means

  • subterfuge

    Etymology French from Latin subterfugio from subter below fugio to flee Meanin

  • subtle

    Etymology Sub Latin prefix meaning under slightly or less Tilis Latin adjec

  • suburb

    Etymology From Late Latin suburbium meaning lying near the city from Latin sub un

  • succeed

    Etymology Old French succeder Latin succedere to come up under take the place of P

  • succinct

    Etymology Succinct from Latin succinctus meaning drawn up fastened together Me

  • succor

    Etymology The word succor comes from the Old French word socors which in turn is de

  • succumb

    Etymology Latin succumbere to yield submit sink under suc under cumbere

  • sudden

    Etymology Sudden comes from the Latin word subitaneus meaning sudden unexpected ha

  • suffer

    Etymology Old French sofrir Latin sufferre Proto Indo European kwe bher kwe bhr i

  • sufficient

    Etymology The word sufficient comes from the Latin word sufficientis which itself i

  • suffix

    Suffix comes from the Latin word suffixus meaning fixed below It is a term used in lin

  • suffrage

    Etymology Middle English suffrage c 1440 Anglo French suffrage 13th century La

  • suggestion

    Etymology The word suggestion comes from the Latin word suggestio which means a whi

  • summon

    Etymology The word summon comes from the Middle English word somnen which is derived

  • supine

    Etymology The word supine comes from the Latin word supinus meaning lying on one s

  • supple

    Etymology Late Latin supplis noun and supplere verb Meaning to fill up to sup

  • supply

    Etymology Middle English supplien from Old French suplir supllier from Latin supp

  • support

    Etymology Latin supportāre from sub under portāre to carry Proto Indo Eur

  • suppose

    Etymology Meaning The study of the origin and development of words Origin Greek ety

  • surge

    Etymology The word surge originates from the Middle English word surgien which in tu

  • suspect

    Etymology The word suspect is derived from the Latin word suspectus meaning distru

  • suspend

    Etymology The word suspend comes from the Latin word suspendere which means to hang

  • sustain

    Etymology Latin sustinēre to hold up sustain endure Proto Indo European steh₂

  • Upanishad

    Etymology The term Upanishad is derived from two Sanskrit words Up near close t

  • uproar

    Etymology Middle English up roren from up adverb roren past participle of reren

  • valet

    Etymology The word valet is derived from the Old French word valet which itself come

  • varlet

    Etymology The word varlet is derived from the Middle English word varlet which in tu

  • vassal

    Etymology Old French vassal Late Latin vassallus servant household serf Possibly fr

  • doubt

    Etymology The word doubt derives from the Old French word douter meaning to fear h

  • sphere

    Etymology The word sphere comes from the Latin word sphaera which in turn comes from

  • article

    Etymology Origin Latin articulus small joint knuckle small part _ Meaning Origina

  • concierge

    Etymology The word concierge comes from the French word conscierge which in turn is

  • graffiti

    Etymology The word graffiti is derived from the Italian word graffito meaning a scr

  • gossamer

    Etymology Gossamer originated in the Middle English word gossomer which is derived

  • hector

    Etymology The name Hector has ancient Greek origins It is derived from the Greek word

  • panic

    Etymology The word panic originates from the Greek god Pan who was associated with na

  • refrain

    Etymology Old French refraindre Medieval Latin refrangere Latin re back frang

  • celestial

    Etymology The word celestial derives from the Latin word caelestis meaning heavenly