Sanskrit is an ancient language which used to be spoken in India and is now used only in religiouswritings and ceremonies.
Sanskrit in British English
(ˈsænskrɪt)
noun
an ancient language of India, the language of the Vedas, of Hinduism, and of an extensive philosophical and scientific literature dating from the beginning of the first millennium bc. It is the oldest recorded member of the Indic branch of the Indo-European family of languages; recognition of the existence of the Indo-European family arose in the 18th century from a comparison of Sanskrit with Greek and Latin. Although it is used only for religious purposes, it is one of the official languagesof India
Derived forms
Sanskritist (ˈSanskritist)
noun
Word origin
C17: from Sanskrit samskrta perfected, literally: put together
Sanskrit in American English
(ˈsænˌskrɪt)
noun
1.
the classical Old Indic literary language, as cultivated from the 4th cent. b.c. onward: because of the antiquity of its written expression and the detailed descriptive analysis it received in the Sutras of the Hindu grammarian Pānini (end of the 4th cent. b.c.), Sanskrit was used as a major source of data in the origin and development of Indo-European comparative linguistics
2. Loosely
any written form of Old Indic, including Vedic
adjective
3.
of or written in Sanskrit
Derived forms
Sanskritic (Sanˈskritic)
adjective
Sanskritist (ˈSanskritist) (ˈsænskrɪtɪst)
noun
Word origin
< Sans saṃskṛta, lit., made together, well arranged < saṃ-, together (see same) + -kṛta, made < IE base *kwer-, to make > MIr creth, poetry: so called in distinction to Prākrit, lit., the common (spoken) language
Examples of 'Sanskrit' in a sentence
Sanskrit
It wasn't Greek, it wasn't Sanskrit, it wasn't hieroglyphics.
Clive Barker SACRAMENT (2001)
He was familiar with the Sanskrit equation: Tat tvam asi, that thou art.
Zindell, David THE BROKEN GOD
None of them could read the Roman letters of the English text, or the Sanskrit of the Hindi on the Mirza's Indian passport, anyway.
Shah, Idries KARA KUSH
She had to sit down to read it, and from her puzzled expression the telegram could easily have been in Sanskrit or Urdu.
Richard Wright 52449_CLARA (2001)
Word lists with
Sanskrit
Ancient Languages
Definition of 'Sanskrit'
language note:
Most of the words which have come into English from Sanskrit are connected with eastern religions, such as mantra, guru, karma, and nirvana. These words have all developed more general meanings alongside their specialised religious sense. For example, mantra, literally `speech', in Hinduism is a sacred word or sound which aids concentration and carries spiritual meaning. In general language, mantra means a kind of catchphrase or slogan, e.g. Right now, his mantra is `make love, not war'. In both Hinduism and Buddhism the concept of karma means that a person's past deeds will decide their future reincarnations. It has developed a looser meaning of `fate' or `destiny' in general language where bad deeds are punished and good deeds rewarded by the universe. Nirvana, literally `extinction', has similarly generated a non-religious meaning. In Hinduism and Buddhism, nirvana is liberation from the cycle of reincarnation. In general language it means paradise or a state of bliss. Although guru refers to a Hindu or Sikh religious teacher, it has also been used of an expert or leader in any field, particularly in a mocking way, e.g. the most venerable management guru of them all.