karma

Where does the word "karma" come from? It comes from Sanskrit karma, and was adopted directly into English (1800s).

Karma’s story begins in Sanskrit: karma meant “action, deed.” Literally "action" or "deed", the principle of cause and effect. It reached English by 1800s as karma. Sanskrit 'action'; the Theosophical Society spread the idea in the West in the 1870s–80s. Today, karma means the idea that a person's actions determine their future fate.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient karma "action, deed", literally "action" or "deed", the principle of cause and effect.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1800s karma "the cosmic principle of cause and effect", Sanskrit 'action'; the Theosophical Society spread the idea in the West in the 1870s–80s.