adjective pron
which of the many
Katama (adjective) [cf. Vedic katama, interrogative pronoun with formation of ordinal number, in function = katara, cf. antama > antara, Latin dextimus > dexter] which, which one (of two or more) Vin II 89; M I 7; Ja I 172; Miln 309; Pv-a 27. In some cases merely emphatic for ko, e.g. Vin I 30 (katamena maggena āgato?); D I 197 (katamo so atta-paṭilābho?); Ja I 97; Snp 995; Miln 51. — instrumental katamena ( scilicet maggena) adverb by which way, how? Miln 57, 58.
which one (of two or more)? which …? what?
【形】 哪一，什麽，哪個。
katama pron. a. [ kim-qatam ] ( °mat n. ) Who or which of many; api jYAyate katamena digBAgena gataH sa jAlma iti V. 1 ; aTa katamaM punarftumaDikftya gAsyAmi Ś. 1 ; katame te guRAstatraM yAnudAharaMtyAryamiSrAH Māl. 1 ; G. L. 22 ; (sometimes it is used merely as a strengthened substitute for kim ). When followed by ca and preceded by yatama it means ‘any whosoever’, ‘whatsoever’. In negative sentences katama with cana or api means ‘not even one’, ‘none at all’ It also means ‘best or excessively good-looking’.
(pron, pron, interr, from ka) what?; which (of the many)? which, what, which of the many Construction: ka + tama