mahatma

[muh-haht-muh, -hat-]

See more synonyms for mahatma on Thesaurus.com

noun (sometimes initial capital letter)

a Brahman sage.
(especially in India) a person who is held in the highest esteem for wisdom and saintliness.
(in Theosophy) a great sage who has renounced further spiritual development in order to aid those who are less advanced.

Origin of mahatma

1850–55; < Sanskrit mahātmā, nominative singular of mahātman high-souled, magnanimous, equivalent to mahā- great + ātman atman

Related formsma·hat·ma·ism, noun

Gandhi

[gahn-dee, gan-]

noun

In·di·ra [in-deer-uh] /ɪnˈdɪər ə/, 1917–84, Indian political leader: prime minister 1966–77 and 1980–84 (daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru).
Mo·han·das Kar·am·chand [moh-huh n-dahs kuhr-uh m-chuhnd] /ˌmoʊ hənˈdɑs ˌkʌr əmˈtʃʌnd/, Mahatma, 1869–1948, Hindu religious leader, nationalist, and social reformer.
Ra·jiv [rah-jeev] /rɑˈdʒiv/, 1944–91, Indian political leader: prime minister 1984–89 (son of Indira).

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for mahatma

someone, figure, luminary, personage, hero, star, personality, superstar, intellectual, teacher, pundit, guru, philosopher, savant, master, mentor, guide, intellect, thinker, mahatma

Examples from the Web for mahatma

Contemporary Examples of mahatma

He visited the White House and advised Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi.
Growth Stocks
The Daily Beast
October 17, 2014
The Nobel committee said he was continuing in the noble tradition of Mahatma Gandhi.
Malala Yousafzai Is the Youngest Nobel Peace Prize Winner in History
Nico Hines
October 10, 2014
South Africa, not India, was the crucible in which the Mahatma was forged.
Best Books About the Rest of the World
Kapil Komireddi
December 24, 2013
First film recording of Mahatma Gandhi, 1931, is now available on YouTube.
Watch: Gandhi's First Video Interview
David Frum
February 4, 2013
If Mahatma Gandhi returned and was democratically elected as president of the Palestinian Authority, it would not matter.
Why I Like Naftali Bennett
Shaul Magid
January 17, 2013

Historical Examples of mahatma

But not many people have met a Mahatma, at least to their knowledge.
The Mahatma and the Hare
H. Rider Haggard
For aught I know Jorsen may be a Mahatma, but he does not in the least look the part.
The Mahatma and the Hare
H. Rider Haggard
It is only poor things such as you and I, Mahatma, which must suffer.
The Mahatma and the Hare
H. Rider Haggard
But whether he is what is called a Mahatma I am sure I do not know.
The Mahatma and the Hare
H. Rider Haggard
Now, Mahatma, you will understand what a bloodthirsty brute he is.
The Mahatma and the Hare
H. Rider Haggard

British Dictionary definitions for mahatma

mahatma

noun (sometimes capital)

Hinduism a Brahman sage
theosophy an adept or sage

Derived Formsmahatmaism, noun

Word Origin for mahatma

C19: from Sanskrit mahātman, from mahā great + ātman soul

Gandhi

noun

Indira (Priyadarshini) (ɪnˈdɪərə, ˈɪndərə), daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru. 1917–84, Indian stateswoman; prime minister of India (1966–77; 1980–84); assassinated
Mohandas Karamchand (ˌməʊhənˈdʌs ˌkʌrəmˈtʃʌnd), known as Mahatma Gandhi. 1869–1948, Indian political and spiritual leader and social reformer. He played a major part in India's struggle for home rule and was frequently imprisoned by the British for organizing acts of civil disobedience. He advocated passive resistance and hunger strikes as means of achieving reform, campaigned for the untouchables, and attempted to unite Muslims and Hindus. He was assassinated by a Hindu extremist
Rajiv (ræˈdʒiːv), son of Indira Gandhi. 1944–91, Indian statesman; prime minister of India (1984–89); assassinated

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

Word Origin and History for mahatma

1884, literally "great-souled," from Sanskrit mahatman, from maha "great," from PIE root *meg- "great" (see magnate) + atman, "soul, principle of life," properly "breath" (see atman). In esoteric Buddhism, "a person of supernatural powers." In common use, as a title, a mark of love and respect. Said to have been applied to Gandhi (1869-1948) in 1915 by poet Rabrindranath Tagore.