Where does “கயம்” come from?

கயம் (Tamil) comes from Pali khaya, from Sanskrit क्षय, from Proto-Indo-Aryan gẓʰayás, from Proto-Indo-Iranian gžʰayás, from Proto-Indo-European dʰgʷʰey- — to decline; to perish.

கயம் (Tamil): greatness, superiority, eminence

Definitions

  1. greatness, superiority, eminence

Ancestry of “கயம்”, step by step

கயம் traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Pali khaya

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Palikhayadecline, decadence; destruction; consumption
2Sanskritक्षयdecay, corrosion; ruin, destruction; diminution,...
3Proto-Indo-Aryangẓʰayás—
4Proto-Indo-Iraniangžʰayás—
5Proto-Indo-Europeandʰgʷʰey-to decline; to perish

via Sanskrit गज

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Sanskritगजelephant
2Sanskritगज्to sound, to roar
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰgʷʰey- →Every word from Proto-Indo-Iranian gžʰayás →Every word from Proto-Indo-Aryan gẓʰayás →