abhi 1 · abhi 2
Abhi- [prefix, Vedic abhi, which represents both Idg °m °bhi, as in Greek ἀμϕί around, Latin ambi, amb round about, Old-Irish imb, Gallic ambi, Old High German umbi, Anglo-Saxon ymb, cf. also Vedic (Pāli) abhita- on both sides; and Indo-Germanic °obhi, as in Latin ob towards, against (cf. obsess, obstruct), Gothic bi, Old High German Anglo-Saxon bī = English be-.I Meaning.1. The primary meaning of abhi is that of taking possession and mastering, as contained in English coming by and over-coming, thus literally having the function of (a) facing and aggressing = towards, against, on to, at (see II 1, a); and (b) mastering = over, along over, out over, on top of (see II 1, b).2. Out of this is developed the figurative meaning of increasing i.e., an intensifying of the action implied in the verb (see III 1). Next to saṃ- it is the most frequent modification preflx in the meaning of "very much, greatly" as the first part of a double-prefix compound (see III 2), and therefore often seemingly superfluous, i.e., weakened in meaning, where the second part already denotes intensity as in abhi-vi-ji (side by side with vi-ji), abhi-ā-kkhā (side by side with ā-kkhā), abhi-anu-mud (side by side with anu-mud). In these latter cases abhi shows a purely deictic character corresponding to German her-bei-kommen (for bei-kommen), English fill up (for fill); e.g., abbhatikkanta (= ati° commentary), abbhatīta ("vorbei gegangen"), abbhantara ("with-in", b-innen or "in here"), abbhudāharati, abhipūreti ("fill up"), etc. (see also II 1, c).II Literal Meaning.1. As single prefix:(a) against, to, on to, at-, e.g., abbhatthaṅgata gone towards home, abhighāta striking at, °jjhā think at, °mana thinking on, °mukha facing, turned towards, °yāti at-tack, °rūhati ascend, °lāsa long for, °vadati ad-dress, °sapati ac-curse, °hata hit at.(b) out, over, all around: abbhudeti go out over, °kamati exceed, °jāti off-spring, °jānāti know all over, °bhavati overcome, °vaḍḍhati increase, °vuṭṭha poured out or over, °sandeti make overflow, °siñcati sprinkle over.(c) abhi has the function of transitivising intransitive verbs after the manner of English be- (con-) and {55} German er-, thus resembling in meaning a simple causative formation, like the following: abhigajjati thunder on, °jānāti "er-kennen" °jāyati be-get, °tthaneti = °gajjati, °nadati "er-tönen", °nandati approve of (cf. anerkennen), °passati con-template, °ramati indulge in, °ropeti honour, °vuḍḍha increased, °saddahati believe in.2. As base in compounds (2nd part of compound) abhi occurs only in combination sam-abhi (which is, however, of late occurrence and a peculiarity of later texts, and is still more frequent in BHS: see under sam-).III Figurative Meaning (intensifying).1. A single prefix: abhikiṇṇa strewn all over, °jalati shine forth, °jighacchati be very hungry, °tatta much exhausted, °tāpa very hot, °toseti please greatly, °nava quite fresh, °nipuṇa very clever, °nīla of a deep black, °manāpa very pleasant, °maṅgala very lucky, °yobbana full youth, °rati great liking, °ratta deep red, °ruci intense satisfaction, °rūpa very handsome (= adhika-rūpa commentary), °sambuddha wide and fully-awake, cf. abbhuddhunāti to shake greatly (= adhikaṃ uddh° commentary). — As 1st part of a preposition-compound (as modification-prefix) in following combinations: abhi-ud (abbhud-) °ati, °anu, °ava, °ā, °ni, °ppa, °vi, °saṃ. See all these sub voce and note that the contraction (assimilation before vowel) form of abhi is abbh°. — On its relation to pari, see pari°, to ava see ava°.IV D.B. ectal Variation. — There are dialect variations in the use and meanings of abhi. Vedic abhi besides corresponding to abhi in Pāli is represented also by ati°, adhi° and anu°, since all are similar in meaning, and psychologically easily fused and confused (cf. meanings: abhi = onto, towards; ati = up to and beyond; adhi = up to, towards, over; anu = along towards). For all the {62} following verbs we find in Pāli one or other of these three prefixes. So ati in °jāti, °pīḷita, °brūheti, °vassati, °vāyati, °veṭheti; also as vv.ll. with abhi-kīrati, °pavassati, °roceti, cf. atikkanta abhikkanta (Sanskrit abhikrānta); adhi in °patthita, °pāteti, °ppāya, °ppeta, °bādheti, °bhū, °vāha (vice versa Pāli abhi-ropeti compared with Sanskrit adhiropayati); anu in °gijjhati, °brūheti, °sandahati.
(prefix, prefix) very; extremely; high
(prefix, prefix) towards; around; about