Prakrit

[ prah-krit, -kreet ]

/ ˈprɑ krɪt, -krit /

noun

any of the vernacular Indic languages of the ancient and medieval periods, as distinguished from Sanskrit.

Origin of Prakrit

1780–90; < Sanskrit prākṛta, derivative of prakṛti; see prakriti

OTHER WORDS FROM Prakrit

Pra·krit·ic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for prakrit

The language of these inscriptions is a Prakrit dialect and is closely connected with the literary Pali.
The American Journal of Archaeology, 1893-1|Various
The syllable ava was transformed in Prakrit into o, and the ta into da.
Sagas from the Far East|Various
As in the Prakrit form, sī is employed for both genders, both numbers and all persons.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 4|Various
We have seen that the word “Prakrit” means “natural” or “vernacular,” as opposed to the “purified” literary Sanskrit.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 14, Slice 4|Various

In the formation of the plural the Prakrit declensions are very closely followed by Marathi.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 17, Slice 6|Various

British Dictionary definitions for prakrit

Prakrit

/ (ˈprɑːkrɪt) /

noun

any of the vernacular Indic languages as distinguished from Sanskrit: spoken from about 300 bc to the Middle AgesSee also Pali

Derived forms of Prakrit

Prakritic, adjective

Word Origin for Prakrit

C18: from Sanskrit prāktra original, from pra- before + kr to do, make + -ta indicating a participle

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