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Panchayat

4 stages from Sanskrit to English.

Today it means A local self-governing council at the village or small-town level in India and neighboring countries.

Where does the word "panchayat" come from? It comes from Sanskrit pancha, passing through Sanskrit and Hindi before entering English (1880s).

1
Stage 1 of 4
pancha
Sanskrit · ancient
"five"
meant 'five'
2
Stage 2 of 4
ayatana
Sanskrit · ancient
"seat, resting place"
meant 'seat, abode, resting place'
3
Stage 3 of 4
panchayat
Hindi · medieval
"a village council"
named a village council, originally of five members
4
Stage 4 of 4
panchayat
English · 1880s
"a local self-governing village council in South Asia"
adopted by British administrators to describe local Indian self-government
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