प्रपञ्च

प्र- (pra-, “pro-”) +‎ पञ्च (pañca, “five”), literally "forwards five". The original meaning was probably "counting (with) the five (fingers of the hand)", which are used as symbolic of presenting and explaining or expanding something in detail; compare Ancient Greek πεμπάζειν (pempázein, “to count (on five fingers)”), Breton pempât (“to fold sheaves together”).

• (Vedic) IPA^(key): /pɾɐ.pɐɲ.t͡ɕɐ/
• (Classical Sanskrit) IPA^(key): /pɾɐˈpɐɲ.t͡ɕɐ/

प्रपञ्च • (prapañca) stem, m

1. expansion, development, manifestation
2. manifoldness, diversity
3. amplification, prolixity, diffuseness, copiousness (in style)
4. manifestation of or form of
5. appearance, phenomenon
6. (philosophy) the expansion of the universe, the visible world
7. (rhetoric) mutual false praise
8. (drama) ludicrous dialogue
9. (grammar) the repetition of an obscure rule in a clearer form

• Monier Williams (1899) “प्रपञ्च”, in A Sanskrit–English Dictionary, , new edition, Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 681/3.
• Mayrhofer, Manfred (1996) Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindoarischen [Etymological Dictionary of Old Indo-Aryan]‎ (in German), volume 2, Heidelberg: Carl Winter Universitätsverlag, pages 65-6; 180
• Mayrhofer, Manfred (1963) Kurzgefasstes Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindischen [A Concise Etymological Sanskrit Dictionary]‎ (in German), volume 2, Heidelberg: Carl Winter Universitätsverlag, page 187; 364