jiva

noun

ji·​va

ˈjēvə

plural -s

sometimes capitalized

1

Hinduism

a

: the vital energy of life

b

: the individual soul

2

Jainism

a

: the individual life monad or separate individual self

b

: the aggregate of all life monads or separate selves : life

Word History

Etymology

Sanskrit jīva, from jīva living, alive

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