Theravada

See also: theravāda

English

Etymology

Transliteration of Pali theravāda, inherited from Sanskrit स्थविरवाद (sthaviravāda, literally doctrine of the elders), from स्थविर (sthavira, elder) + वाद (vāda, doctrine).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˌtɛrəˈvɑːdə/, /ˌθɛrəˈvɑːdə/

Proper noun

Theravada

  1. (Buddhism) The oldest surviving school of Buddhism based on the earliest recorded teachings of the historical Buddha found in the Pali canon, widely practised in Southeast Asia.
    Coordinate term: Mahayana

Translations

Noun

Theravada (plural Theravadas)

  1. A Buddhist of this particular school.

Further reading