Upanishad

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U·pan·i·shad

U0129000 (o͞o-păn′ə-shăd′, o͞o-pä′nĭ-shäd′)n. Any of a group of philosophical treatises contributing to the theology of ancient Hinduism, elaborating on the earlier Vedas.
[Sanskrit upaniṣat, upaniṣad- : upa, under, near; see upo in Indo-European roots + ni, down + sīdati, sad-, he sits (probably from the fact that students would sit at their teacher's feet while listening to instruction); see sed- in Indo-European roots.]
U·pan′i·shad′ic adj.

Upanishad

(uːˈpʌnɪʃəd; -ˌʃæd; juː-) n (Hinduism) Hinduism any of a class of the Sanskrit sacred books probably composed between 400 and 200 bc and embodying the mystical and esoteric doctrines of ancient Hindu philosophy[C19: from Sanskrit upanisad a sitting down near something, from upa near to + ni down + sīdati he sits] Uˌpaniˈshadic adj

U•pan•i•shad

(uˈpæn ɪˌʃæd, uˈpɑ nɪˌʃɑd)

n. any of a class of Hindu treatises, usu. in dialogue form, composed between the 8th and 6th centuries b.c. and first written a.d. c1300. [1800–10; < Skt upaniṣad] U•pan`i•shad′ic, adj.
Thesaurus
Noun1.Upanishad - a later sacred text of Hinduism of a mystical nature dealing with metaphysical questions; "the Vedanta philosophy developed from the pantheistic views of the Upanishads"