mahatma

Where does the word "mahatma" come from? It comes from Sanskrit mahatman, passing through English before entering English (1915).

Mahatma’s story begins in Sanskrit: mahatman meant “great-souled one.” Compound of 'great' and 'soul, self'. By 1884, the word had taken hold in English as mahatma. Sanskrit 'great soul'; applied to Gandhi from 1915, reportedly first by Rabindranath Tagore. It reached English by 1915 as Mahatma. Applied to Gandhi, popularly credited to Rabindranath Tagore. Today, mahatma means an honorific title meaning 'great soul,' famously applied to Mohandas Gandhi.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient mahatman "great-souled one", compound of 'great' and 'soul, self'.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1884 mahatma "a revered, great-souled person", Sanskrit 'great soul'; applied to Gandhi from 1915, reportedly first by Rabindranath Tagore.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1915 Mahatma "an honorific for a person of great spiritual stature", applied to Gandhi, popularly credited to Rabindranath Tagore.