samsara

Where does the word "samsara" come from? It comes from Sanskrit samsara, and was adopted directly into English (1900s).

Samsara’s story begins in Sanskrit: samsara meant “the cycle of rebirth.” Literally flowing through, the cycle of death and rebirth in Hindu and Buddhist belief. It reached English by 1900s as samsara. Sanskrit 'wandering through'. Today, samsara means the cycle of death and rebirth in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain belief.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient samsara "the cycle of rebirth", literally flowing through, the cycle of death and rebirth in Hindu and Buddhist belief.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1900s samsara "the cycle of death and rebirth", Sanskrit 'wandering through'.