Pra, Prā: 15 definitions
Introduction:
Pra means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)
Pra (प्र).—A conventional term for हृस्व (hṛsva) (short) generally applied to vowels in the Jainendra Vyakarana.
Vyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.
Ganitashastra (Mathematics and Algebra)
Pra (प्र) refers to the “first” (unknown) as it represents an abbreviation of prathama, according to the principles of Bījagaṇita (“algebra” or ‘science of calculation’), according to Gaṇita-śāstra, ancient Indian mathematics and astronomy.—Lack of an efficient symbolism is bound to give rise to a certain amount of ambiguity in the representation of an algebraic equation especially when it contains more than one known. [...] To avoid such ambiguity, in one instance which contains as many as five unknowns, the abbreviations of ordinal numbers, such as pra (from prathama, first), dvi (from dvitīya, second), tṛ (from tṛtīya, third), ca (from caturtha, fourth) and paṃ (from pañcama, fifth), have been used to represent the unknowns.
Ganita (गणित) or Ganitashastra refers to the ancient Indian science of mathematics, algebra, number theory, arithmetic, etc. Closely allied with astronomy, both were commonly taught and studied in universities, even since the 1st millennium BCE. Ganita-shastra also includes ritualistic math-books such as the Shulba-sutras.
India history and geography
Pra.—(PJS), abbreviation of pratimā (especially in medieval Jain inscriptions). (IE 8-1), abbreviation of prathama. Note: pra is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
pra (प्र).—S A particle and prefix implying I. Progressive motion (forth, forward, away &c.) II. Excess or excellence (very, much, exceeding). Abundant examples follow.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Pra (प्र).—ind.
1) As a prefix to verbs it means 'forward', 'forth', 'in front', 'onward', 'before', 'away', as in प्रगम्, प्रस्था, प्रचर्, प्रया (pragam, prasthā, pracar, prayā) &c.
2) With adjectives it means 'very', 'excessively', 'very much' &c.; प्रकृष्ट, प्रमत्त (prakṛṣṭa, pramatta) &c., see further on.
3) With nouns whether derived from verbs or not, it is used in the following senses according to G. M. :-(a) beginning, commencement; (prayāṇam, prasthānam, prāhṇa); (b) length (pravālabhūṣika); (c) power (prabhu); (d) intensity, excess (pravāda, prakarṣa, pracchāya praguṇa); (e) source or origin (prabhava, prapautra); (f) completion, perfectness, satisfaction (prabhuktamannam); (g) destitution, separation, being without (proṣitā, praparṇavṛkṣaḥ); (h) apart (prajñu); (i) excellence (prācāryaḥ); (j) purity (prasannaṃ jalam); (k) wish (prārthanā); (l) cessation (praśama); (m) adoration, respect (prāñjaliḥ who respectfully folds his hands together); (n) prominence (praṇasa, pravāla). In the Veda it is often used as a separable adverb; cf. प्र आदिकर्मदीर्घेशभृशसंभवतृप्तिवियोगशुद्धिशक्तीच्छाशान्तिपूजाग्रहर्शनेषु (pra ādikarmadīrgheśabhṛśasaṃbhavatṛptiviyogaśuddhiśaktīcchāśāntipūjāgraharśaneṣu).
--- OR ---
Prā (प्रा).—2 P. (prāti) To fill; अप्रासीदिषुभिर्मुखम् (aprāsīdiṣubhirmukham) Bk.
--- OR ---
Prā (प्रा).—f. Matted hair; Nigh. Ratna.
Pra (प्र).—Ind. A particle and prefix, implying. 1. Progressive motion, (forth, forward, away, &c.) 2. Excess or excellence, (very, much, exceeding.) 3. Appearance, manifestation. It corresponds with the Latin particles Pro and Præ, as in prakarttuṃ To do much or well; prakramituṃ To go forth or over; prakarṣituṃ To excel; prakāśituṃ To display; prasthātuṃ To go forth, set out; prakamam Very willingly; pramṛgam When the deer go forth, (the time, &c.) See the following compounds. E. prath to be famous, &c. aff. ḍa.
--- OR ---
Prā (प्रा).—r. 2nd cl. (prāti) To fill. adā0 para0 saka0 aniṭ .
Pra (प्र).—prep. 1. Before. 2. Forward. 3. Away. 4. Pre-eminent. 5. Excessive. 6. Beginning. I. Combined and compounded with verbs and derivatives. Ii. Compounded with nouns.
— Cf. [Latin] prŏ, e. g. in pronepos; [Gothic.] frums; A. S. form; see pranaptṛ and purā.
--- OR ---
Prā (प्रा).— (akin to pṛ10 for par + ā), ii. 2, [Parasmaipada.] To fill. Ptcple. of the pf. pass. prāṇa, Full.
— Cf. etc.; Lat plenus (= prāṇa), implere, etc., plebes.
Pra (प्र).—1. [adverb] forward, onward, forth, away, fore (mostly °— in subst. & verbs); very, much, greatly (°— in adjectives).
--- OR ---
Pra (प्र).—2. filling, sating, nourishing (—°); [neuter] fulfilment.
--- OR ---
Prā (प्रा).—1. [participle] prāta = 1 pṛ.
--- OR ---
Prā (प्रा).—2. = 2 pra (—°).
1) Pra (प्र):—1. pra ind. before
2) forward, in front, on, forth (mostly in connection with a verb, [especially] with a verb of motion which is often to be supplied; sometimes repeated before the verb cf. [Pāṇini 8-1, 6]; rarely as a separate word e.g. [Aitareya-brāhmaṇa ii, 40])
3) as a prefix to [substantive] = forth, away cf. pra-vṛtti, pra-sthāna
4) as pref. to [adjective (cf. [masculine, feminine and neuter; or adjective])] = excessively, very, much cf. pra-caṇḍa, pra-matta
5) in nouns of relationship = great- cf. pra-pitāmaha, pra-pautra
6) (according to native lexicographers it may be used in the senses of gati, ā-rambha, ut-karṣa, sarvato-bhāva, prāthamya, khyāti, ut-patti, vy-avahāra), [Ṛg-veda]; etc.
7) cf. puras, purā, pūrva; [Zend] fra; [Greek] πρό; [Latin] pro; [Slavonic or Slavonian] pra-, pro-; [Lithuanian] pra-; [Gothic] faúr, faúra; [German] vor; [English] fore.
8) 2. pra mfn. (√pṝ or prā) filling, fulfilling
9) (n. fulfilment ifc.; cf. ākūti-, kakṣya-, kāma-)
10) like, resembling (ifc.; cf. ikṣu-, kṣura-).
11) Prā (प्रा):—1. prā [class] 2. [Parasmaipada] ([Dhātupāṭha xxiv, 53]) prāti ([perfect tense] [Parasmaipada] paprau or paprā, 2. sg. paprātha, p. paprivas f. pruṣī, [Ṛg-veda]; [Ātmanepada] papre, 2. sg. priṣe, [ib.; Atharva-veda]; papre as [Passive voice], Bhatt [Aorist] 3. sg. aprāt or aprās, [Ṛg-veda]; [subjunctive] prās or prāsi, [ib.]; [Aorist] [Passive voice] aprāyi, [Atharva-veda]), to fill, [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda; Brāhmaṇa; Bhaṭṭi-kāvya]
12) cf. [Greek], πλή-ρης; [Latin] plē-nus.
13) 2. prā mfn. filling (ifc.= 2. pra; cf. antarikṣa-, kāma-, kratuetc.)
14) 3. prā Vṛddhi or lengthened form of 1. pra in [compound] (cf. [Pāṇini vi, 3, 122]). Observe in the following derivatives, only the second member of the simple compound from which they come is given in the parentheses, leaving the preposition pra (lengthened to prā in the derivatives) to be supplied.
1) Pra (प्र):—prep. Forth; very.
2) Prā (प्रा):—(la) prāti 2. a. To fill.
[Sanskrit to German]
Pra (प्र) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Pa.
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Hindi dictionary
Pra (प्र):—— a Sanskrit prefix imparting the meanings of before; forward; in front; on; forth; away; excessively, eminently, excellently, very much.
...
Nepali dictionary
Pra (प्र):—pref. 1. forward; forth; 2. very;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+27): Ponchanya, Ponsu, pra ka ra na sde brgyad, Pra mo, Prababadhana, Prabaddha, Prabadh, Prabadhaka, Prabadhamana, Prabadhana, Prabadhin, Prabadhita, Prabahlika, Prabahu, Prabahuk, Prabahukam, Prabala, Prabalaka, Prabalam, Prabali.
Full-text (+8541): Prasada, Pramana, Pradesha, Prakasha, Pravara, Prabhava, Prajna, Prakara, Prana, Vipra, Prastha, Prakrita, Pras, Pradosha, Prakriti, Prasanga, Prakshalana, Prayasa, Pravasa, Praghata.
Relevant text
Search found 227 books and stories containing Pra, Prā; (plurals include: Pras, Prās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (MDPI)
Solar UV Measured under Built-Shade in Public Parks < [Volume 19, Issue 17 (2022)]
Pregnancy-Related Anxiety, Perceived Parental Self-Efficacy and the Influence... < [Volume 17, Issue 18 (2020)]
Monitoring Injuries Associated with Mandated Children’s Products in Australia < [Volume 15, Issue 10 (2018)]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Guhyagarbha Tantra (with Commentary) (by Gyurme Dorje)
Text 7.8 (Commentary) < [Chapter 7 (text and commentary)]
Chapter 7 - Absorption of the Maṇḍala and the Secret Mantras < [Chapter 7 (text and commentary)]
The Influence of Demographic Variables on the Pooled Rideshare Acceptance... < [Volume 17, Issue 9 (2025)]
Adoption Trend of Climate-Resilient Rice Varieties in Bangladesh < [Volume 14, Issue 9 (2022)]
Conservation Agriculture for Environmental Sustainability in A Semiarid... < [Volume 10, Issue 5 (2018)]
Related products
