Word history

Monier-Williams (1899) records śīlavat with the sense “of good character”. Śīlavat is an adjective formed with the vocabulary of character or disposition and a possessive ending. Monier-Williams gives a good disposition and good conduct as its senses. शीलवंत is the surname form in this word family. The adjective’s meaning describes the word; it is not an assessment of any individual’s behaviour.

Sources: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899) · headword śīlavat, page 1079, column 2, entry L218690

Literal dictionary sense

śīlavat: Of good character.

Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899) · headword śīlavat, page 1079, column 2, entry L218690

Native-script forms

शीलवंत · Devanagari

Sources and attribution

Dictionary senses and word histories are selected and adapted. Adapted lexical text is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Linked Wiktionary entries provide contributor histories. Source register.