Sanskrit
[ san-skrit ]
/ ˈsæn skrɪt /
See the most commonly confused word associated with sanskrit
Save This Word!
noun
an Indo-European, Indic language, in use since c1200 b.c. as the religious and classical literary language of India. Abbreviations: Skt, Skt., Skr., Skrt
adjective
Also San·skrit·ic . of or relating to Sanskrit.
COMPARE MEANINGS
Click for a side-by-side comparison of meanings. Use the word comparison feature to learn the differences between similar and commonly confused words.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?
Also Older Spelling, San·scrit .
Origin of Sanskrit
OTHER WORDS FROM Sanskrit
San·skrit·ist, nounnon-San·skrit·ic, adjectiveWords nearby Sanskrit
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use Sanskrit in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for Sanskrit
Sanskrit
/ (ˈsænskrɪt) /
noun
an ancient language of India, the language of the Vedas, of Hinduism, and of an extensive philosophical and scientific literature dating from the beginning of the first millennium bc. It is the oldest recorded member of the Indic branch of the Indo-European family of languages; recognition of the existence of the Indo-European family arose in the 18th century from a comparison of Sanskrit with Greek and Latin. Although it is used only for religious purposes, it is one of the official languages of India
Derived forms of Sanskrit
Sanskritist, nounWord Origin for Sanskrit
C17: from Sanskrit samskrta perfected, literally: put together
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
Cultural definitions for Sanskrit
Sanskrit
The language of ancient India, and one of the oldest languages of the Indo-European family, to which English belongs.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.