1
Stage 1 of 3
sati
Sanskrit · ancient
"a virtuous, faithful wife"
meant 'virtuous, true', literally 'existing', used for a devoted wife
2
Stage 2 of 3
sati
Hindi · medieval
"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 of 3
suttee
English · 1786
"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
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