Etymograph

English

Shakti

Shakti comes from Sanskrit शक्ति ‘power, energy’, from शक् ‘to be able to’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ḱek-.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱek-‘to be able, capable’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-Iranianc. 2500–1800 BCE*ćak-reconstructed
  3. Proto-Indo-Aryanprehistoric (reconstructed)*śak-reconstructed
  4. Sanskritc. 1500–500 BCEशक्śak‘to be able to’
  5. Sanskrit, derivedc. 1500–500 BCEशक्तिśákti‘power, energy’
  6. Englishearliest quotation 1981Shakti

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱek-‘to be able, capable’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-Iranianc. 2500–1800 BCE*ćak-reconstructed
  3. Proto-Indo-Aryanprehistoric (reconstructed)*śak-reconstructed
  4. Sanskritc. 1500–500 BCEशक्śak‘to be able to’
  5. Sanskrit, derivedc. 1500–500 BCEशक्तिśákti‘power, energy’
  6. Englishearliest quotation 1981Shakti

Earliest quotation: 1981, William Irwin Thompson, The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light: Mythology: “In yoga the feminine principle is Shakti, the Great…”

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *ḱek- ‘to be able, capable’

ho, 4 more

Today it means

name The Hindu concept or personification of the divine feminine aspect, sometimes referred to as 'The Divine Mother'. Shakti represents the active, dynamic principles of feminine power.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *ḱek- / Shakti

Shirt and support for this word