mahatma
Americannoun
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a Brahman sage.
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(especially in India) a person who is held in the highest esteem for wisdom and saintliness.
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(in Theosophy) a great sage who has renounced further spiritual development in order to aid those who are less advanced.
noun
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Hinduism a Brahman sage
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theosophy an adept or sage
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of mahatma
1850–55; < Sanskrit mahātmā, nominative singular of mahātman high-souled, magnanimous, equivalent to mahā- great + ātman atman
Vocabulary lists containing mahatma
2015 Spelling Bee - Words from Round 2
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History of India - Introductory
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History of India - Middle School and High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It centers around a towering bronze statue of Indian independence leader Mohandas K. Gandhi, also known as the mahatma or “great soul.”
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 23, 2019
Certain subjects, like Gandhi, who is often referred to as mahatma, or great soul, are particularly guarded.
From New York Times ● Mar. 31, 2011
He feels he has captured some of that spirit in his depictions of the mahatma.
From New York Times ● Jan. 28, 2011
Last week the talk in New Delhi was that Seth Ramkrishna Dalmia, wealthy owner of the Times of India, was an active candidate for mahatma.
From Time Magazine Archive
Ushas used a stronger expression here, but out of consideration for my old mahatma friends, I suppress it. p.
From Fashionable Philosophy and Other Sketches by Laurence Oliphant
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
