Veda

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A large body of ancient texts originating from India, encompassing hymns, philosophy, and rituals
2. A collection of sacred scriptures that form the foundation of Hindu religious knowledge and practice
3. A series of texts composed in Sanskrit, revered for their spiritual authority and historical significance in Hinduism

Etymology: The English word "veda" comes from Sanskrit "véda," meaning "knowledge," and it names the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism. The Sanskrit root is related to the verb "to know," which is also the source of the Latin "videre" ("to see") in a distant ancestral sense, though the English word itself passed directly from Sanskrit. The lowercase form most English readers encounter is a different matter. The Veda bread brand takes its name from the scriptures, and the source suggests the word was probably first used as a trade name, invented around 1904. In that sense, the lowercase spelling is essentially a brand name that later came to be recognized as a common term.

Synonyms: scripture, holy text, sacred writing