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dharma - 3 dictionary results

dhar⋅ma

  [dahr-muh, duhr-]
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–noun Hinduism, Buddhism.
1. essential quality or character, as of the cosmos or one's own nature.
2. conformity to religious law, custom, duty, or one's own quality or character.
3. virtue.
4. religion.
5. law, esp. religious law.
6. the doctrine or teaching of the Buddha.
Pali, dham⋅ma  [duhm-uh] .

Origin:
1790–1800; < Skt: custom, duty, akin to dhārayati holds, maintains

Related forms:
dharmic, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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dhar·ma   (där'mə, dûr'-)   
n.  
  1. Hinduism & Buddhism
    1. The principle or law that orders the universe.
    2. Individual conduct in conformity with this principle.
    3. The essential function or nature of a thing.
    4. The body of teachings expounded by the Buddha.
    5. Knowledge of or duty to undertake conduct set forth by the Buddha as a way to enlightenment.
    6. One of the basic, minute elements from which all things are made.
  2. Hinduism Individual obligation with respect to caste, social custom, civil law, and sacred law.
  3. Buddhism
    1. The body of teachings expounded by the Buddha.
    2. Knowledge of or duty to undertake conduct set forth by the Buddha as a way to enlightenment.
    3. One of the basic, minute elements from which all things are made.

[Sanskrit dharmaḥ, statute, law; see dher- in Indo-European roots.]
dhar'mic adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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dharma 
1796, in secular sense, "caste custom, right behavior;" in Buddhism and Hinduism, "moral law," from Skt., "law, right, justice," related to dharayati "holds," and cognate with L. firmus, all from PIE base *dher- "to hold, support" (see firm (adj.)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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