māsa

Latvian

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *mā-, a baby language word for “mother,” “mommy” (whence also māte, q.v.). This word, probably at first a term of endearment, has replaced an earlier descendant of Proto-Indo-European *swésōr (still found in Lithuanian sesuõ, genitive form seser̃s). Cognates include Lithuanian móša (“sister-in-law”), Old Prussian moazo (, “aunt”).

Noun

māsa f (4th declension)

1. sister (a daughter of a couple, in relation to their other children)

   vecākā, jaunākā māsa ― older, younger sister

   brāļi un māsas ― brothers and sisters

   īstā māsa ― true, real sister

   dvīņu māsa ― twin sister

   abas rokas izpletis, viņš piepeši metās māsai ap kaklu ― spreading both arms, he suddenly threw himself on his sister's neck (= hugged her)

2. sister (a woman who is closely associated with someone)

   vārda māsas ― namesakes (lit. name sisters, i.e., two women who have the same name)

   līgavas māsas ― bridesmaids (lit. bride's sisters)

   es visiem pazemotiem esmu māsa / un visiem grūtsirdīgiem draudzene ― I am the sister of all humiliated (people) / and the friend of all melancholic (people)

3. nurse (medical assistant who helps a doctor treat patients)

   māsa, medicīnas māsa ― nurse

   operāciju māsa ― operation nurse

   diētas māsa ― diet nurse

   vecākā māsa ― chief (lit. older) nurse

   medicīnas māsu kursi ― nurse training courses

   iegūt medicīnas māsu diplomu ― to get a nurse diploma

4. sister (nun, female member of a religious order)

   māsa Olga zināja daudz ko tādu, ko nezināja Vaikulis ― sister Olga knew many things that Vaikulis didn't know

Declension

Synonyms

• (of "nun"): mūķene

Related terms

• māsīca
• māsiņa

References

Mandarin

Romanization

māsa (Zhuyin ㄇㄚ ˙ㄙㄚ)

1. Hanyu Pinyin reading of 摩挲

Old Javanese

Etymology

Borrowed from Sanskrit मास (māsa, “month”, literally “moon”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ma.sa/
• Rhymes: -sa
• Homophones: masa, māṣa
• Hyphenation: mā‧sa

Noun

māsa

1. month
2. time

Alternative forms

• masa

Derived terms

Descendants

• Javanese: ꦩꦁꦱ (mangsa)
• → Balinese: ᬫᬵᬲ (masa)

Further reading

• "māsa" in P.J. Zoetmulder with the collaboration of S.O. Robson, Old Javanese-English Dictionary. 's-Gravenhage: M. Nijhoff, 1982.

Pali

Alternative forms

Etymology 1

Inherited from Sanskrit मास (māsa, “month”).

Noun

māsa m

1. a month

Declension

Etymology 2

Inherited from Sanskrit माष (māṣa, “mungo bean”).

Noun

māsa m

1. mungo bean, black matpe bean, Vigna mungo

Declension

Descendants

• → Burmese: မတ် (mat) (cf. မတ်ပဲ (matpai:))