Buddhism
UK[ˈbʊd.ɪ.zəm]US[ˈbuː.dɪ.zəm]
n
A religion founded in ancient India by Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha), which teaches that suffering is inherent in life and that one can be liberated from it by mental and moral self-purification.
Morpheme Breakdown
buddh
ism
buddh
Buddha
ism
system, doctrine
Etymology
The term 'Buddhism' directly names the doctrine associated with the Buddha. The core element 'Buddh-' originates from the Sanskrit title 'Buddha', meaning 'the Awakened One', derived from the ancient root bheudh- meaning 'to be aware, awaken'. This Proto-Indo-European root also gave rise to English words like 'bid' and the concept of 'bode'. The suffix '-ism', entering English via Latin from Greek '-ismos', systematically denotes a distinctive practice, philosophy, or system. Thus, 'Buddhism' linguistically constructs the meaning 'the doctrine or system of the Awakened One', perfectly encapsulating its identity as the teachings stemming from Siddhartha Gautama's enlightenment.
Analysis
Structure: buddh (Buddha) + ism (system, doctrine)
- buddh: From Sanskrit 'buddha', meaning 'awakened, enlightened'. It is the past participle of the verb 'budh-', meaning 'to awake, know, perceive'. Functions as the core root denoting the founder.
- ism: A suffix of Greek origin (via Latin '-ismus'), used to form nouns indicating a system of belief, doctrine, or practice.
Examples
Buddhism spread from India across much of Asia.
The core principles of Buddhism include the Four Noble Truths.
She has studied the philosophy and meditation practices of Buddhism for years.