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Where does the word "maharaja" come from? It comes from Sanskrit mahārāja, passing through Hindi before entering English (1690s).
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Where does the word "maharaja" come from? It comes from Sanskrit mahārāja, passing through Hindi before entering English (1690s).
Maharaja’s story begins in Sanskrit: mahārāja meant “great king.” 'great king', from 'mahā', great, and 'rājan', king, a cousin of Latin 'rex'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Hindi as mahārājā. The title of rulers of Indian princely states. It reached English by 1690s as maharaja. Used by the East India Company for the rulers it allied with or conquered. Today, maharaja means a great Indian prince or king.
- Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient mahārāja "great king", 'great king', from 'mahā', great, and 'rājan', king, a cousin of Latin 'rex'.
- Stage 2 · Hindi · medieval mahārājā "great king", the title of rulers of Indian princely states.
- Stage 3 · English · 1690s maharaja "Indian prince", used by the East India Company for the rulers it allied with or conquered.