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Glite Dictionary
Prakritic

Prakritic

9.9
Relating to the Prakrit languages of ancient India
  • adjective
  • Specialized
: prakrítico
  • The Prakritic texts provide insight into ancient Indian culture.

Examples

  • Linguists study Prakritic influences on modern Indian languages.

  • Many scholars study Prakritic languages for historical linguistics.

  • Ancient texts composed in a Prakritic dialect are important for understanding Buddhist history.

  • The inscription was written in a Prakritic script rather than in Sanskrit.

  • Ancient texts composed in a Prakritic dialect are important for understanding Buddhist history.

  • Linguists study Prakritic influences on modern Indian languages.

  • The inscription was written in a Prakritic script rather than in Sanskrit.

Surface Forms

Prakritic positive

Morphology

Prakritic = Prakrit (transparent) = Prakrit + ic

Standard adjectival formation with '-ic' meaning 'relating to Prakrit', so the meaning is directly derived from the base noun.

Etymology

Prakritic comes from Prakrit, which comes from the old Sanskrit word Prākṛta meaning 'natural' or 'common'. So Prakritic describes languages or texts from the ordinary, everyday speech of ancient India, not the more formal Sanskrit.