arhat
|ar-hat|
🇺🇸
/ˈɑr.hæt/
🇬🇧
/ˈɑː.hæt/
worthy, enlightened person
Etymology
'arhat' originates from Sanskrit and Pali, specifically the Sanskrit word 'arhat' and the Pali word 'arahant', where the root element 'arh' (or 'arha') meant 'worthy' or 'deserving'.
'arhat' (Sanskrit) and 'arahant' (Pali) entered English through scholarly works on Buddhism in the 18th–19th centuries (via New Latin and modern European languages), becoming the modern English 'arhat'.
Initially the term meant 'worthy' or 'deserving' (a venerable person); over time it came to refer specifically to one who has achieved enlightenment or liberation in Buddhist tradition.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
in Buddhism, a person who has attained nirvana or liberation from the cycle of birth and death; an enlightened, 'worthy' one.
In the monastery's texts, several monks were described as arhats who had overcome desire and suffering.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/13 10:18