Where does “avatar” come from?
Avatar derives from Hindi अवतार, from Sanskrit अवतार, combining Sanskrit अव- (off, away) and तॄ (to cross), from Proto-Indo-European terh₂- (to cross or overcome).
avatar (English): the incarnation of a deity, particularly Vishnu;...
Definitions
- the incarnation of a deity, particularly Vishnu;...
Ancestry of “avatar”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Hindi | अवतार | an incarnation; incarnation of a deity, descent... |
| 2 | Sanskrit | अवतार | avatar: descent , appearance of any deity upon... |
| 3 | Sanskrit | अव | off, away; down; this |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | Háwa | away from, off; down |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ew | away from, off; again |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰe | — |
Words derived from “avatar”