suttee

Where does the word "suttee" come from? It comes from Sanskrit sati, passing through Hindi before entering English (1786).

Suttee’s story begins in Sanskrit: sati meant “a virtuous, faithful wife.” Meant 'virtuous, true', literally 'existing', used for a devoted wife. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Hindi as sati. Applied specifically to a widow who immolated herself on her husband's pyre. It reached English by 1786 as suttee. British colonial writers adopted the word for the practice and the widow who performed it. Today, suttee means a historical Hindu practice in which a widow immolated herself on her husband's funeral pyre; also refers to the widow herself.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient sati "a virtuous, faithful wife", meant 'virtuous, true', literally 'existing', used for a devoted wife.
2. Stage 2 · Hindi · medieval sati "a widow's self-immolation, or the widow herself", applied specifically to a widow who immolated herself on her husband's pyre.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1786 suttee "the historical practice of a Hindu widow's self-immolation", British colonial writers adopted the word for the practice and the widow who performed it.