ahimsa

Where does the word "ahimsa" come from? It comes from Sanskrit himsa, passing through Sanskrit before entering English (1875).

Ahimsa’s story begins in Sanskrit: himsa meant “injury, harm.” Meant 'injury, harm', from a root meaning 'to strike'. Within Sanskrit, it grew into ahimsa by ancient. The negated form: 'non-injury, non-violence'. It reached English by 1875 as ahimsa. Entered English through the study of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain philosophy, later popularized by Gandhi. Today, ahimsa means the principle of non-violence and respect for all living beings, central to Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Gandhian philosophy.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient himsa "injury, harm", meant 'injury, harm', from a root meaning 'to strike'.
2. Stage 2 · Sanskrit · ancient ahimsa "non-violence", the negated form: 'non-injury, non-violence'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1875 ahimsa "the principle of non-violence toward all living beings", entered English through the study of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain philosophy, later popularized by Gandhi.