deva
pronunciation
How to pronounce deva in British English:
UK [ˈdeɪvə]
How to pronounce deva in American English:
US [ ˈdeɪvə]
Word Origin
- deva (n.)
- "god, good spirit" in Hindu religion, from Sanskrit deva "a god," originally "a shining one," from *div- "to shine," thus cognate with Greek dios "divine" and Zeus, and Latin deus "god" (Old Latin deivos); see Zeus. Fem. form devi is used for "goddess," also (with capital D-) for the mother goddess in Hinduism. Hence, also, devadasi "temple dancing girl," literally "female servant of a god," from dasi "slave girl." Also Devanagari, the formal alphabet of Sanskrit writings, perhaps originally "divine city script," from nagara "city."
Example
- 1. Deva ! What madness is this ?
- 2. This was the domain of the park deva .
- 3. Stop deva ! I won 't let you leave !
- 4. One asura suspected foul play , disguised himself as a deva , and drank some nectar .
- 5. The free traders first exported our jobs and now they are trying to redeem themselves by deva luing the dollar .