English
halant
Halant comes from Hindi हलंत ‘halant (virama), denoted by "्"’, from Sanskrit हलन्त ‘ending in a consonant’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- ‘face’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂ent-‘face’reconstructed
- Sanskritc. 1500–500 BCEअन्त॑ánta
- Sanskrit, derivedc. 1500–500 BCEहलन्त‘ending in a consonant’
- Hindic. 1500–presentहलंतhalant‘halant (virama), denoted by "्"’
- Englishtodayhalant
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂ent-‘face’reconstructed
- Sanskritc. 1500–500 BCEअन्त॑ánta
- Sanskrit, derivedc. 1500–500 BCEहलन्त‘ending in a consonant’
- Hindic. 1500–presentहलंतhalant‘halant (virama), denoted by "्"’
- Englishtodayhalant
The story
The computing sense arises from the diacritic sense through the use in ISCII of the same computer character to act, depending on context and font capabilities, as either a visual diacritic or as a control character modifying a pair of consonants.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- ‘face’
and, end, answer, ancient, endless, antique, ender, ante, 10 more
Today it means
noun A diacritic used in most writing systems of the Indian subcontinent to signify the lack of an inherent vowel.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- / halant