rasa

American  

[ruhs-uh] / ˈrʌs ə /

noun

1. (in Hindu aesthetics) flavor, sentiment, or emotion: regarded as one of the fundamental qualities of classical music, dance, and poetry.

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Etymology

Origin of rasa

First recorded in 1790–1800, rasa is from the Sanskrit word rasa sap, fluid, essence

Example Sentences

Somewhere inside a tabula rasa passed off as an office space, a diligent worker is rewarded with a five-minute "dance experience."

From Salon • Jan. 18, 2025

Her desire for a global tabula rasa outstrips that of even the most fanatical Red Guards, who still dominate her mental landscape.

From New York Times • Mar. 23, 2024

In the 17th century John Locke rejected this idea, insisting that the human mind begins as a tabula rasa, or blank slate, with almost all knowledge acquired through experience.

From Scientific American • Mar. 7, 2023

The top is a tabula rasa of post-pandemic young adulthood, ready to absorb and reflect the 2023 equivalent of those aforementioned references: It looks like TikTok, tastes like espresso martinis and sounds like Dua Lipa.

From Washington Post • Jan. 7, 2023

"Since this in sleep identical with me, goddess, arises from my members, and is the exudation of my body, it is called rasa."

From The Sarva-Darsana-Samgraha Review of the Different Systems of Hindu Philosophy by Acharya, Madhava