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
- mahatmaism noun
Etymology
Origin of mahatma
1850–55; < Sanskrit mahātmā, nominative singular of mahātman high-souled, magnanimous, equivalent to mahā- great + ātman atman
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
Since a penchant for public confession is one of the most essential items of equipment for a would-be mahatma, Dalmia concentrated on owning up past misdeeds.
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 Oliphant, Laurence
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
