namastev.
/ˈnaməsteɪ/, /naməˈsteɪ/, U.S. /ˈˌnæməˈˌsteɪ/ intransitive and transitive. To give a namaste (to).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous act or expression > use formal courtesy in act or expression [verb (intransitive)] > greet > use other specific gestures
move1594
nod1600
bow1651
salaam1698
to rub noses1819
hongi1853
heil1939
namaste1969
wai1972
1969 J. K. Galbraith Ambassador's Jrnl. xxvi. 586 After we had shaken hands, waved, namasted and got on board, the crowd lined up by the plane and one of the engines failed to start.
1971 R. Parkes Line of Fire xi. 101 He namasted gravely.
1988 L. Dhingra Amritvela viii. 33 I follow, imitate, smile, nod, fold my hands to namaste.
1991 L. Fosburgh India Gate ii. v. 125 He was namasteing them, hands up, head slightly bent, looking genuinely devout.
1999 M. Syal Life isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee (2000) viii. 332 She paused to namaste to some faces she vaguely recognized.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
namasteint.n.
/ˈnaməsteɪ/, /naməˈsteɪ/, U.S. /ˈˌnɑməˈˌsteɪ/ A. int.
Expressing a respectful greeting, said when giving a namaste (sense B.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous act or expression > courteous expressions [interjection] > expressions of greeting > in India
namaste1944
1885 E. Arnold tr. Song Celestial 110 Honour and worship be..to Thee Namô, Namastê, cried on every side.]
1944 M. Freedman in Longmans Misc. No. 2. 155 ‘Till tomorrow. Namaste, Saheb.’ ‘I'll give you a lesson in English swearing one of these days. Namaste.’
1967 D. C. Cooke C/o Amer. Embassy (1968) ii. 21 ‘Namaste, Sahib,’ the Sikh said.
1969 ‘E. Peters’ Mourning Raga iii. 48 She pressed her hands together in reverence to him, and bowed her head..‘Namaste!’
1997 V. Chandra Love & Longing in Bombay (1998) 51 ‘It was nice,’ Sheila said. ‘Namaste.’
B. n.
A traditional gesture of greeting used in South Asia, esp. by Hindus, made by bringing the palms together before the face or chest and bowing. Cf. namaskar n. Cf. wai n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous act or expression > [noun] > greeting or salutation > gesture > oriental or Indian
salaam1613
salaaming1816
pranam1845
namaskar1887
namaste1948
wai1966
1948 Time 16 Aug. 18/3 In response Nehru closed palms in front of his chest. This traditional Hindu namasthe (greeting) is as much a part of his public manner as was the V sign for Churchill.
1960 A. Koestler Lotus & Robot i. i. 52 A toothless Brahmin..walked in and, after a dignified namaste, hung a garland round my neck.
1965 E. Linton World in Grain of Sand vii. 114 I shall be waiting for a letter from you. Namastes and love from Savitri.
1973 ‘B. Mather’ Snowline vii. 79 The namaste sign..is with the palms together as in prayer, head bowed reverently and nose touching the fingertips.
1997 A. Roy God of Small Things (1998) vi. 139 The large one wobbled the standing up sign that said Kerala Tourism Development Corporation Welcomes You with a kathakali dancer doing a namasté.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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v.1969
int.n.1944