Definition of the word ta

The prefix "ta-" in some Tibetan and Sanskrit words is believed to have originated from the Proto-Indo-European root "*tap-," meaning "tap, touch, hit." This root is also found in various other Indo-European languages, such as Greek ("tabanos," meaning "gnat" or "annoying bug," which might have been coined because of the insect's "touchy" bite) and English ("top," "tap," and "tip," all with roots meaning "touch" or "share"). In Tibetan, the prefix "ta-" is commonly used to indicate a sense of impermanence or lack of self-nature, as in words like "tathagata" (meaning "thus-gone," or one who has fully realized the nature of reality and is therefore no longer bound by illusions and desires) and "tongkçand" (meaning "moon," as the moon is constantly changing and has no inherent, permanent self). In Sanskrit, the prefix "ta-" is also used to convey negative meanings or a sense of dispelling or removing, as in words like "tantra" (meaning "unfettered," or a text or practice that helps to free one from spiritual bonds) and "tamas" (meaning "darkness" or "ignorance," as in the three poisons of Hinduism: tamas, rajas, and sattva). Overall, the prefix "ta-" in Tibetan and Sanskrit serves to modify the meaning of the root words it accompanies, adding Nuance and depth to their significance.