5 Primary Source Extracts: The “അ” (A) Entries
The initial vowel “അ” (a) is of high strategic importance. It serves as a foundational demonstrative pronoun and a Sanskrit-derived negative particle. Phonetically, it often exhibits shifts toward the sound of ‘e’ or ‘ai’ depending on its position or the following consonant (e.g., meḍayan from jaṭa).
Sample Entries
- അ — a — 1. pron. That, yonder. (e.g., avan, adu). 2. Used for the second person as ayaddēham (that person/you).
- അ — a — S. negative particle, before vowels an. (e.g., a-phalam fruit-less).
- അം — am — 5. (obs.) = a, adu; hence aṅṅu.
- അംശം — amšam — S. 1. Share, part. 2. Part of a Talook (formerly called a mōhabbili). 3. Emanation or incarnation of a god.
- അംശകം — amšaγam — S. (അംശം) The fourth part of a day.
- അംശിക്ക — amšikka — (അംശം) To divide, portion.
- അംശു — amšu — S. (അംശം) Ray (po.) amšumān the sun.
- അംസം — amsam — S. 1. Shoulder; amsaḷam strong.
- അംസരം — amsaram — Vu. = avasaram (occasion/time).
- അംഹസ്സ് — amhassụ — S. (L. ango) Anxiety, (throttler) sin.
The Concept of Tadbhavam (Tdbh) The label “Tdbh.” identifies a Tadbhavam—a Sanskrit word that has been phonetically modified to fit the Dravidian mouth. A strategic rule seen in these entries is that initial ‘r’ and ‘l’ from Sanskrit words typically take a preceding ‘a’ when naturalized into Malayalam (e.g., arakkar, araṅṅu).
These entries showcase the dictionary’s role in mapping the transition from script to semantic meaning.
