za-zen

[ zah-zen ]

/ ˈzɑˈzɛn /

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noun Zen.

meditation in a prescribed, cross-legged posture.

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Origin of za-zen

1720–30; <Japanese, equivalent to za “seat, seated” (<Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese zuò “sit”) + zen Zen

Words nearby za-zen

Zátopek, zax, z-axis, Zaydi, zayin, za-zen, ZB, Z band, Z-bar, ZBB, Z boson

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use za-zen in a sentence

The King returns to Cleveland, a battered Kobe battles in the West, and the Zen Master is christened the savior of New York.
2014 NBA Preview: Skinny LeBron and the Racist Ghost of Donald Sterling|Robert Silverman|October 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That was what improved my game, being able to play xu and za.
Well, La Ti Da: Stephin Merritt’s Winning Little Words of Scrabble|David Bukszpan|October 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Each word, from aa to za, gets its own two-page spread with a poem and a pic.
Well, La Ti Da: Stephin Merritt’s Winning Little Words of Scrabble|David Bukszpan|October 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Those words were said by Joshu Sasaki Roshi, who ordained Leonard Cohen as a Zen monk in 1996.
Excuse Me For Not Dying: Leonard Cohen at 80|David Yaffe|September 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST

When he emerged from the Zen monastery on Mount Baldy, his enlightenment was followed with an all too worldly disaster.
Excuse Me For Not Dying: Leonard Cohen at 80|David Yaffe|September 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Mz-za, the Iron; St. Peters; a brave of distinction, and a very handsome fellow.
Adventures of the Ojibbeway and Ioway Indians in England, France, and Belgium; Vol. I (of 2)|George Catlin
Zen-ed-din paid him handsomely for his trouble, and added some words of good advice.
Harper's New Monthly Magazine Vol. IV, No. 19, Dec 1851|Various
We must zen see ze city, ze illumination, ze dance, ze pyrotechnic at night.
The Four Corners Abroad|Amy Ella Blanchard
Amongst the products of this place I saw a very remarkable fruit, called by the Arabs Za-cho-ne.
Early Travels in Palestine|Arculf et al.
I sall away to ze Kasbah, and zen in due time look for ze swoop of ze French zouaves.
Miss Caprice|St. George Rathborne

British Dictionary definitions for za-zen

zazen

/ (zʌzɛn) /

noun

(in Zen Buddhism) deep meditation undertaken whilst sitting upright with legs crossed

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