Where does “metta” come from?

metta (English) comes from Pali mettā, from Sanskrit मैत्री, from Sanskrit मैत्र, from Sanskrit मित्र, from Proto-Indo-Aryan mitrás, from Proto-Indo-Iranian mitrás, from Proto-Indo-European mēy- — soft, tender, dear.

metta (English): Lovingkindness or compassion, especially if developed through meditation or mindfulness

Definitions

  1. Lovingkindness or compassion, especially if developed through meditation or mindfulness

Ancestry of “metta”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Palimettāloving-kindness
2Sanskritमैत्रीfriendship
3Sanskritमैत्रfriendly, benevolent; friendship
4Sanskritमित्रa friend, companion, associate; the sun;...
5Proto-Indo-Aryanmitrásfriend
6Proto-Indo-Iranianmitráscovenant; treaty; agreement
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmēy-soft, tender, dear
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mēy- →Every word from Proto-Indo-Iranian mitrás →Every word from Proto-Indo-Aryan mitrás →