guna

noun

gu·​na

ˈgu̇nə,

ˈgü-

plural -s

1

: one of three primal qualities or elements of matter according to Sankhya philosophy see rajas, sattva, tamas

2

: a Sanskrit ablaut grade that strengthens the simple vowels by prefixing an a element to each so that i or ī becomes e (for earlier ai), u or ū becomes o (for earlier au), r becomes ar, and ḷ becomes al, but a and ā remain unchanged

Word History

Etymology

Sanskrit guṇa thread, quality

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