namaste

Meanings

Interjection

• Literally "I bow to you"; used as a greeting or acknowledgement of the equality of all, which pays honor to the sacredness of all.

Noun

• The traditional greeting when saying the word namaste, with folded hands and a slight bow.
• In yoga, the pose associated with this word, usually with the flat hands held palms together, fingers up, in front of the heart and a slight bow.

Verb

• To utter "namaste".

Origin

• Borrowed from Sanskrit नमस्ते, from नमस्, and ते, from Proto-Indo-Iranian *námas ("to bow, prostrate"), from Proto-Indo-European *némos ("sacrifice, worship"). Compare Persian نماز.