Etymologically
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karma

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈkɑː.mə/; /ˈkɑɹ.mə/, /ˈkəɹ.mə/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Sanskrit कर्म (karma, “action, work, deed; fate”), the nominative of कर्मन् (karman),[2][3][4] from करोति (karoti, “he does, makes”),[3][5] related to Avestan kərənaoiti (“makes”) and Old Persian kunautiy (“he makes”),[2] from Proto-Indo-European *kʷer- (“to make, form”).[2][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

In an Indian context, the sum of a person's actions in one life, which determines the next: 1800 in Etymonline;[2] the OED's first quotation, in Buddhism, is from 1827.[7]

Semantic evolution

Karmic is from 1883.[7] The OED (1989) notes that the word was latterly adopted by Western popular meditative groups,[2] and in loose use it means fate or destiny,[8][5] or the feeling or atmosphere of a place or person.[8]

Timeline

  • 1800 – karma.[2]
  • 1827 – in Buddhism (OED).[7]
  • 1883 – karmic.[7]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. In Hinduism and Buddhism, the sum of a person's actions, seen as deciding their fate in this life and in future reincarnations.
  2. Fate or destiny.
  3. (informal) The atmosphere or feeling surrounding a person or place; vibes.

Word family

  • karmic
  • karma-marga
  • dharma
  • Sanskrit

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
  6. ^ Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b c d Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  8. ^ a b The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin