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dharma

[ dahr-muh, duhr- ]
/ ˈdɑr mə, ˈdʌr- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR dharma ON THESAURUS.COM

noun Hinduism, Buddhism.

essential quality or character, as of the cosmos or one's own nature.
conformity to religious law, custom, duty, or one's own quality or character.
virtue.
religion.
law, especially religious law.
the doctrine or teaching of the Buddha.

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Pali dham·ma [duhm-uh]. /ˈdʌm ə/.

Origin of dharma

1790–1800; <Sanskrit: custom, duty, akin to dhārayati holds, maintains

OTHER WORDS FROM dharma

dharmic, adjective

Words nearby dharma

Dhaka, dhāl, dhaman, dhamma, dhansak, dharma, dharna, Dharuk, Dhaulagiri, DHB, DHEA
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to dharma

enlightenment, conduct, teachings

Example sentences from the Web for dharma

British Dictionary definitions for dharma

dharma
/ (ˈdɑːmə) /

noun

Hinduism social custom regarded as a religious and moral duty
Hinduism
  1. the essential principle of the cosmos; natural law
  2. conduct that conforms with this
Buddhism ideal truth as set forth in the teaching of Buddha

Word Origin for dharma

Sanskrit: habit, usage, law, from dhārayati he holds
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012