asoka
|a-so-ka|
🇺🇸
/əˈsoʊkə/
🇬🇧
/əˈsəʊkə/
sorrowless → proper name (emperor/tree)
Etymology
'asoka' originates from Sanskrit, specifically the word 'Aśoka' (a- + śoka), where 'a-' meant 'without' and 'śoka' meant 'sorrow (grief)'.
'asoka' changed from the Sanskrit 'Aśoka' into Prakrit and Pali forms (often written 'Asoka') and later entered English as the proper name 'Asoka' or variant 'Ashoka'.
Initially, it meant 'without sorrow' as a compound describing a quality; over time it became primarily a proper name (of the emperor) and the name of a tree, losing the literal 'without sorrow' sense in everyday use.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
proper name: Asoka (also spelled Ashoka or Aśoka), the Mauryan emperor of ancient India (c. 268–232 BCE) known for converting to Buddhism and issuing edicts.
Scholars study the edicts left by asoka to trace the spread of Buddhism.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a medium-sized evergreen tree (Saraca asoca or related species) native to South Asia, valued for its fragrant orange/yellow flowers and cultural/religious associations.
The garden had a flowering asoka with fragrant orange blossoms.
Synonyms
Noun 3
title/name: used as the title of works (e.g., films) or as a personal name referencing the historical figure.
They watched the historical film asoka last night.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/30 04:34