Where does “महावीर” come from?

महावीर (Sanskrit) comes from Sanskrit महा, from Proto-Indo-Aryan maźʰā́, from Proto-Indo-Iranian maȷ́ʰā́, from Proto-Indo-European méǵh₂s — big, great.

महावीर (Sanskrit): a great hero

Definitions

  1. a great hero

Ancestry of “महावीर”, step by step

महावीर traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Sanskrit महा

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Sanskritमहाcombining form of महत्; buffalo; great, large,...
2Proto-Indo-Aryanmaźʰā́—
3Proto-Indo-Iranianmaȷ́ʰā́big, great
4Proto-Indo-Europeanméǵh₂sbig, great

via Sanskrit वीर

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Sanskritवीरman, especially a brave or eminent man, hero,...
2Proto-Indo-Iranianwīrás—
3Proto-Indo-EuropeanwiHrósman; husband; warrior, hero
4Proto-Indo-Europeanweyh₁-to chase, pursue; to suppress, persecute

Words derived from “महावीर”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European méǵh₂s →Every word from Proto-Indo-Iranian maȷ́ʰā́ →Every word from Proto-Indo-Aryan maźʰā́ →