Bahuvrihi

2021-07-24T19:26:07Z

2600:1017:B801:D0A5:2D85:FC93:DFB6:2CAD:

{{Italic title}}
A '''''bahuvrihi''''' '''compound''' (from {{lang-sa|बहुव्रीहि|tr=bahuvrīhi|lit=much rice/having much rice}}, originally referring to fertile land but later denoting the quality of being wealthy or rich) is a type of [[compound (linguistics)|compound word]] that [[Metonymy|denotes a referent by specifying a certain characteristic or quality the referent possesses]].<ref name=ruppel>{{cite book
| last = A.M.
| first = Ruppel
| title = The Cambridge Introduction to Sanskrit
| publisher = Cambridge University Press
| date = 2017
| location = New York
| pages = 139-41
| language = English
| isbn = 1107088283
}}</ref> A bahuvrihi is [[exocentric]], so that the compound is not a [[hyponym]] of its [[Head (linguistics)|head]]. For instance, a [[saber-toothed cat|sabretooth]] (''[[smilodon|smil-odon]]'') is neither a [[sabre]] nor a [[tooth]], but a feline with sabre-like teeth.

In [[Sanskrit]] bahuvrihis, the last constituent is a noun—more strictly, a nominal [[stem (linguistics)|stem]]—while the whole compound is an adjective.<ref name=ruppel/> In [[Vedic Sanskrit]] the [[Vedic accent|accent]] is regularly on the first member ({{lang|sa-Latn|[[tatpurusha]]}} ''{{lang|sa-Latn|rāja-pútra}}'' "a king's son", but bahuvrihi ''{{lang|sa-Latn|rājá-putra}}'' "having kings as sons", viz. ''{{lang|sa-Latn|rājá-putra-}}'', m., "father of kings", ''{{lang|sa-Latn|rājá-putrā-}}'', f., "mother of kings"), with the exception of a number of non-nominal prefixes such as the [[privative a]]; the word ''{{lang|sa-Latn|bahuvrīhí}}'' is itself likewise an exception to this rule.

Bahuvrihi compounds are called '''possessive compounds''' in English.<ref name=ruppel/> In English, bahuvrihis can be identified and the last constituent is usually a noun, while the whole compound is a noun or an adjective. The accent is on the first constituent. English bahuvrihis often describe people using [[synecdoche]]: ''flatfoot'', ''half-wit'', ''highbrow'', ''lowlife'', ''redhead'', ''tenderfoot'', ''long-legs'', and ''white-collar''.

In dictionaries and other reference works, the abbreviation 'Bhvr.' is sometimes used to indicate bahuvrihi compounds.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=e2YaAQAAIAAJ&lpg=RA2-PA2&ots=uHziZLTX95&dq=%22Bhvr.%22%20Bahuvrihi&pg=RA2-PA2#v=onepage&q=%22Bhvr.%22%20Bahuvrihi&f=false Handbuch der Sanskritsprache, Volumes 1-2]</ref>

== Examples ==
=== English ===
* "[[Houndstooth]]", a woven fabric with a patterns resembling dog's teeth: "She's wearing houndstooth."
* "[[Old money]]", members from established upper-class who have usually inherited their wealth: "He's definitely old money."
* "[[Bluestocking]]", an educated, intellectual, or artistically accomplished woman: "Auntie Maud will never marry; she's a bluestocking."

=== Other languages ===
* {{lang|non|[[Skinfaxi]]|italic=no}} and {{lang|non|[[Hrímfaxi]]|italic=no}} (meaning ''shining-mane'' and ''rime-mane''; two horses in [[Norse mythology]]) are two examples of [[Old Norse]] bahuvrihis.
* ''{{lang|peo-Latn|[[Achaemenes|Haxāmaniš]]}}''

== See also ==
{{Wiktionary}}
* [[Dvandva]]
* [[Dvigu]]
* [[Kenning]]
* [[Sanskrit compound]]
* [[Synecdoche]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Linguistic morphology]]
[[Category:Vyakarana]]

{{Ling-morph-stub}}

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Bahuvrihi