Definitions for mahatmaməˈhɑt mə, -ˈhæt-

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Random House Webster's College Dictionary

ma•hat•ma*məˈhɑt mə, -ˈhæt-(n.)(pl.)-mas.

  1. a Brahman sage.

    Category: Eastern Religions

  2. (esp. in India) a person who is held in the highest esteem for wisdom and saintliness.

    Category: Eastern Religions

* (sometimes cap.).

Origin of mahatma:

1850–55; < Skt mahātmā, from mahātman high-souled =mahā- great +ātmanatman

Princeton's WordNet

  1. mahatma(noun)

    (Hinduism) term of respect for a brahmin sage

Wiktionary

  1. mahatma(Noun)

    An epithet granted in India and Tibet to people thought to have great knowledge and love of humanity

  2. Origin: From Sanskrit, महात्मा (mahātman) महा (mahā) + आत्मन (ātman) meaning great spirit

The Nuttall Encyclopedia

  1. Mahatma

    one who, according to the Theosophists, has passed through the complete cycle of incarnation, has thereby attained perfection of being, and acquired the rank of high priesthood and miraculous powers in the spirit world, one, it would seem, of "the spirits of just men made perfect."


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