धीर

Hindi

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• (Delhi) IPA^(key): /d̪ʱiːɾ/
• Rhymes: -iːɾ

Adjective

धीर • (dhīr)

1. steadfast, resolute; bold

References

• Caturvedi, Mahendra, Bhola Nath Tiwari (1970) “धीर”, in A practical Hindi-English dictionary, Delhi: National Publishing House
• “धीर”, in Collins Gem Hindi-English Dictionary, Collins, 2011, →ISBN
• Dāsa, Śyāmasundara (1965–1975) “धीर”, in Hindī Śabdasāgara [lit. Sea of Hindi words] (in Hindi), Kashi [Varanasi]: Nagari Pracarini Sabha
• McGregor, Ronald Stuart (1993) “धीर”, in The Oxford Hindi-English Dictionary, London: Oxford University Press
• Platts, John T. (1884) “धीर”, in A dictionary of Urdu, classical Hindi, and English, London: W. H. Allen & Co.

Pali

Alternative forms

Alternative scripts

• dhīra (Latin script)
• 𑀥𑀻𑀭 (Brahmi script)
• ধীর (Bengali script)
• ධීර (Sinhalese script)
• ဓီရ or ဓဳရ or ꩪီရ (Burmese script)
• ธีร or ธีระ (Thai script)
• ᨵᩦᩁ (Tai Tham script)
• ຘີຣ or ຘີຣະ (Lao script)
• ធីរ (Khmer script)
• 𑄙𑄩𑄢 (Chakma script)

Adjective

धीर

1. Devanagari script form of dhīra (“wise; firm”)

Declension

Declension table of "धीर" (masculine)

Case \ Number	Singular	Plural
Nominative (first)	धीरो (dhīro)	धीरा (dhīrā)
Accusative (second)	धीरं (dhīraṃ)	धीरे (dhīre)
Instrumental (third)	धीरेन (dhīrena)	धीरेहि (dhīrehi) or धीरेभि (dhīrebhi)
Dative (fourth)	धीरस्स (dhīrassa) or धीराय (dhīrāya) or धीरत्थं (dhīratthaṃ)	धीरानं (dhīrānaṃ)
Ablative (fifth)	धीरस्मा (dhīrasmā) or धीरम्हा (dhīramhā) or धीरा (dhīrā)	धीरेहि (dhīrehi) or धीरेभि (dhīrebhi)
Genitive (sixth)	धीरस्स (dhīrassa)	धीरानं (dhīrānaṃ)
Locative (seventh)	धीरस्मिं (dhīrasmiṃ) or धीरम्हि (dhīramhi) or धीरे (dhīre)	धीरेसु (dhīresu)
Vocative (calling)	धीर (dhīra)	धीरा (dhīrā)

Declension table of "धीरा" (feminine)

Case \ Number	Singular	Plural
Nominative (first)	धीरा (dhīrā)	धीरायो (dhīrāyo) or धीरा (dhīrā)
Accusative (second)	धीरं (dhīraṃ)	धीरायो (dhīrāyo) or धीरा (dhīrā)
Instrumental (third)	धीराय (dhīrāya)	धीराहि (dhīrāhi) or धीराभि (dhīrābhi)
Dative (fourth)	धीराय (dhīrāya)	धीरानं (dhīrānaṃ)
Ablative (fifth)	धीराय (dhīrāya)	धीराहि (dhīrāhi) or धीराभि (dhīrābhi)
Genitive (sixth)	धीराय (dhīrāya)	धीरानं (dhīrānaṃ)
Locative (seventh)	धीराय (dhīrāya) or धीरायं (dhīrāyaṃ)	धीरासु (dhīrāsu)
Vocative (calling)	धीरे (dhīre)	धीरायो (dhīrāyo) or धीरा (dhīrā)

Declension table of "धीर" (neuter)

Case \ Number	Singular	Plural
Nominative (first)	धीरं (dhīraṃ)	धीरानि (dhīrāni)
Accusative (second)	धीरं (dhīraṃ)	धीरानि (dhīrāni)
Instrumental (third)	धीरेन (dhīrena)	धीरेहि (dhīrehi) or धीरेभि (dhīrebhi)
Dative (fourth)	धीरस्स (dhīrassa) or धीराय (dhīrāya) or धीरत्थं (dhīratthaṃ)	धीरानं (dhīrānaṃ)
Ablative (fifth)	धीरस्मा (dhīrasmā) or धीरम्हा (dhīramhā) or धीरा (dhīrā)	धीरेहि (dhīrehi) or धीरेभि (dhīrebhi)
Genitive (sixth)	धीरस्स (dhīrassa)	धीरानं (dhīrānaṃ)
Locative (seventh)	धीरस्मिं (dhīrasmiṃ) or धीरम्हि (dhīramhi) or धीरे (dhīre)	धीरेसु (dhīresu)
Vocative (calling)	धीर (dhīra)	धीरानि (dhīrāni)

Sanskrit

Alternative scripts

Alternative scripts

• ধীৰ (Assamese script)
• ᬥᬷᬭ (Balinese script)
• ধীর (Bengali script)
• 𑰠𑰱𑰨 (Bhaiksuki script)
• 𑀥𑀻𑀭 (Brahmi script)
• ဓီရ (Burmese script)
• ધીર (Gujarati script)
• ਧੀਰ (Gurmukhi script)
• 𑌧𑍀𑌰 (Grantha script)
• ꦣꦷꦫ (Javanese script)
• 𑂡𑂲𑂩 (Kaithi script)
• ಧೀರ (Kannada script)
• ធីរ (Khmer script)
• ຘີຣ (Lao script)
• ധീര (Malayalam script)
• ᢡᡳᡳᡵᠠ (Manchu script)
• 𑘠𑘲𑘨 (Modi script)
• ᢑᠾᠢᠢᠷᠠ᠋ (Mongolian script)
• 𑧀𑧓𑧈 (Nandinagari script)
• 𑐢𑐷𑐬 (Newa script)
• ଧୀର (Odia script)
• ꢤꢷꢬ (Saurashtra script)
• 𑆣𑆵𑆫 (Sharada script)
• 𑖠𑖱𑖨 (Siddham script)
• ධීර (Sinhalese script)
• 𑩮𑩑𑩛𑩼 (Soyombo script)
• 𑚜𑚯𑚤 (Takri script)
• தீ⁴ர (Tamil script)
• ధీర (Telugu script)
• ธีร (Thai script)
• དྷཱི་ར (Tibetan script)
• 𑒡𑒲𑒩 (Tirhuta script)
• 𑨜𑨁𑨊𑨫 (Zanabazar Square script)

Pronunciation

• (Vedic) IPA^(key): /dʱíː.ɾɐ/
• (Classical Sanskrit) IPA^(key): /ˈd̪ʱiː.ɾɐ/

Etymology 1

From the root धृ (dhṛ, “to hold, to be firm”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰer- (“to hold, support”).

Adjective

धीर • (dhī́ra) stem

1. steady, constant, firm, resolute, brave, energetic, courageous, self-possessed, composed, calm, grave
2. deep, low, dull (as sound)
3. gentle, soft
4. well-conducted, well-bred

Usage notes

In compounds, this meaning cannot always be distinguished from that of 'wise' etc.

Declension

Masculine a-stem declension of धीर (dhī́ra)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	धीरः dhī́raḥ	धीरौ / धीरा¹ dhī́rau / dhī́rā¹	धीराः / धीरासः¹ dhī́rāḥ / dhī́rāsaḥ¹
Vocative	धीर dhī́ra	धीरौ / धीरा¹ dhī́rau / dhī́rā¹	धीराः / धीरासः¹ dhī́rāḥ / dhī́rāsaḥ¹
Accusative	धीरम् dhī́ram	धीरौ / धीरा¹ dhī́rau / dhī́rā¹	धीरान् dhī́rān
Instrumental	धीरेण dhī́reṇa	धीराभ्याम् dhī́rābhyām	धीरैः / धीरेभिः¹ dhī́raiḥ / dhī́rebhiḥ¹
Dative	धीराय dhī́rāya	धीराभ्याम् dhī́rābhyām	धीरेभ्यः dhī́rebhyaḥ
Ablative	धीरात् dhī́rāt	धीराभ्याम् dhī́rābhyām	धीरेभ्यः dhī́rebhyaḥ
Genitive	धीरस्य dhī́rasya	धीरयोः dhī́rayoḥ	धीराणाम् dhī́rāṇām
Locative	धीरे dhī́re	धीरयोः dhī́rayoḥ	धीरेषु dhī́reṣu
Notes	¹Vedic

Feminine ā-stem declension of धीरा (dhī́rā)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	धीरा dhī́rā	धीरे dhī́re	धीराः dhī́rāḥ
Vocative	धीरे dhī́re	धीरे dhī́re	धीराः dhī́rāḥ
Accusative	धीराम् dhī́rām	धीरे dhī́re	धीराः dhī́rāḥ
Instrumental	धीरया / धीरा¹ dhī́rayā / dhī́rā¹	धीराभ्याम् dhī́rābhyām	धीराभिः dhī́rābhiḥ
Dative	धीरायै dhī́rāyai	धीराभ्याम् dhī́rābhyām	धीराभ्यः dhī́rābhyaḥ
Ablative	धीरायाः / धीरायै² dhī́rāyāḥ / dhī́rāyai²	धीराभ्याम् dhī́rābhyām	धीराभ्यः dhī́rābhyaḥ
Genitive	धीरायाः / धीरायै² dhī́rāyāḥ / dhī́rāyai²	धीरयोः dhī́rayoḥ	धीराणाम् dhī́rāṇām
Locative	धीरायाम् dhī́rāyām	धीरयोः dhī́rayoḥ	धीरासु dhī́rāsu
Notes	¹Vedic ²Brāhmaṇas

Neuter a-stem declension of धीर (dhī́ra)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	धीरम् dhī́ram	धीरे dhī́re	धीराणि / धीरा¹ dhī́rāṇi / dhī́rā¹
Vocative	धीर dhī́ra	धीरे dhī́re	धीराणि / धीरा¹ dhī́rāṇi / dhī́rā¹
Accusative	धीरम् dhī́ram	धीरे dhī́re	धीराणि / धीरा¹ dhī́rāṇi / dhī́rā¹
Instrumental	धीरेण dhī́reṇa	धीराभ्याम् dhī́rābhyām	धीरैः / धीरेभिः¹ dhī́raiḥ / dhī́rebhiḥ¹
Dative	धीराय dhī́rāya	धीराभ्याम् dhī́rābhyām	धीरेभ्यः dhī́rebhyaḥ
Ablative	धीरात् dhī́rāt	धीराभ्याम् dhī́rābhyām	धीरेभ्यः dhī́rebhyaḥ
Genitive	धीरस्य dhī́rasya	धीरयोः dhī́rayoḥ	धीराणाम् dhī́rāṇām
Locative	धीरे dhī́re	धीरयोः dhī́rayoḥ	धीरेषु dhī́reṣu
Notes	¹Vedic

Descendants

• Punjabi: ਧੀਰਾ (dhīrā)

Etymology 2

From the root धी (dhī, “to perceive, think”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeyh₂- (“mind, thought”).

Adjective

धीर • (dhī́ra) stem

1. intelligent, wise, skillful, clever
   • (Can we date this quote?), The Buddha, Dhammapada(pāḷi) (subsequently translated from Pali to Sanskrit), Appamādavaɡɡa, page 32; republished in The Eighteenth Book in the Suttanta-Pitaka: Khuddaka-Nikāya‎^[1], Colombo, 2009:

     8. ප්‍රමාදමප්‍රමාදෙන යදා නුදති පණ‍්ඩිතඃ
     ප්‍රඥාප්‍රසාදමාරුහ්‍ය ත්‍වශොකඃ ශොකිනීං ප්‍රජාම්
     පර්‍වතස‍්ථ ඉව භූමිෂ‍්ඨාන් ධීරො බාලානවෙක්‍ෂතෙ

     8 Pramādamapramādena yadā nudati paṇḍitaḥ
     Prajñāprasādamāruhya tvaśokaḥ śokinīṃ prajām
     Parvatastha iva bhūmiṣṭhān dhīro bālānavekṣate

     8. When the astute dispel negligence by means of diligence,
     having ascended the palace of wisdom, the sorrow-free then behold this generation of sorrow,
     as a wise man on a mountain-top beholds the fools below.

     (literally, “8. When the astute dispel negligence by means of diligence,
     having ascended the palace of wisdom, the sorrow-free then behold this generation of sorrow,
     as a wise man on a mountain-top beholds the fools on the ground.”)

     (Wiktionary translation adapted from translation of the Pali by Ajahn Sujato.)

Declension

Masculine a-stem declension of धीर (dhī́ra)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	धीरः dhī́raḥ	धीरौ / धीरा¹ dhī́rau / dhī́rā¹	धीराः / धीरासः¹ dhī́rāḥ / dhī́rāsaḥ¹
Vocative	धीर dhī́ra	धीरौ / धीरा¹ dhī́rau / dhī́rā¹	धीराः / धीरासः¹ dhī́rāḥ / dhī́rāsaḥ¹
Accusative	धीरम् dhī́ram	धीरौ / धीरा¹ dhī́rau / dhī́rā¹	धीरान् dhī́rān
Instrumental	धीरेण dhī́reṇa	धीराभ्याम् dhī́rābhyām	धीरैः / धीरेभिः¹ dhī́raiḥ / dhī́rebhiḥ¹
Dative	धीराय dhī́rāya	धीराभ्याम् dhī́rābhyām	धीरेभ्यः dhī́rebhyaḥ
Ablative	धीरात् dhī́rāt	धीराभ्याम् dhī́rābhyām	धीरेभ्यः dhī́rebhyaḥ
Genitive	धीरस्य dhī́rasya	धीरयोः dhī́rayoḥ	धीराणाम् dhī́rāṇām
Locative	धीरे dhī́re	धीरयोः dhī́rayoḥ	धीरेषु dhī́reṣu
Notes	¹Vedic

Feminine ā-stem declension of धीरा (dhī́rā)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	धीरा dhī́rā	धीरे dhī́re	धीराः dhī́rāḥ
Vocative	धीरे dhī́re	धीरे dhī́re	धीराः dhī́rāḥ
Accusative	धीराम् dhī́rām	धीरे dhī́re	धीराः dhī́rāḥ
Instrumental	धीरया / धीरा¹ dhī́rayā / dhī́rā¹	धीराभ्याम् dhī́rābhyām	धीराभिः dhī́rābhiḥ
Dative	धीरायै dhī́rāyai	धीराभ्याम् dhī́rābhyām	धीराभ्यः dhī́rābhyaḥ
Ablative	धीरायाः / धीरायै² dhī́rāyāḥ / dhī́rāyai²	धीराभ्याम् dhī́rābhyām	धीराभ्यः dhī́rābhyaḥ
Genitive	धीरायाः / धीरायै² dhī́rāyāḥ / dhī́rāyai²	धीरयोः dhī́rayoḥ	धीराणाम् dhī́rāṇām
Locative	धीरायाम् dhī́rāyām	धीरयोः dhī́rayoḥ	धीरासु dhī́rāsu
Notes	¹Vedic ²Brāhmaṇas

Feminine ī-stem declension of धीरी (dhīrī́)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	धीरी dhīrī́	धीर्यौ / धीरी¹ dhīryaù / dhīrī́¹	धीर्यः / धीरीः¹ dhīryàḥ / dhīrī́ḥ¹
Vocative	धीरि dhī́ri	धीर्यौ / धीरी¹ dhī́ryau / dhī́rī¹	धीर्यः / धीरीः¹ dhī́ryaḥ / dhī́rīḥ¹
Accusative	धीरीम् dhīrī́m	धीर्यौ / धीरी¹ dhīryaù / dhīrī́¹	धीरीः dhīrī́ḥ
Instrumental	धीर्या dhīryā́	धीरीभ्याम् dhīrī́bhyām	धीरीभिः dhīrī́bhiḥ
Dative	धीर्यै dhīryaí	धीरीभ्याम् dhīrī́bhyām	धीरीभ्यः dhīrī́bhyaḥ
Ablative	धीर्याः / धीर्यै² dhīryā́ḥ / dhīryaí²	धीरीभ्याम् dhīrī́bhyām	धीरीभ्यः dhīrī́bhyaḥ
Genitive	धीर्याः / धीर्यै² dhīryā́ḥ / dhīryaí²	धीर्योः dhīryóḥ	धीरीणाम् dhīrī́ṇām
Locative	धीर्याम् dhīryā́m	धीर्योः dhīryóḥ	धीरीषु dhīrī́ṣu
Notes	¹Vedic ²Brāhmaṇas

Neuter a-stem declension of धीर (dhī́ra)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	धीरम् dhī́ram	धीरे dhī́re	धीराणि / धीरा¹ dhī́rāṇi / dhī́rā¹
Vocative	धीर dhī́ra	धीरे dhī́re	धीराणि / धीरा¹ dhī́rāṇi / dhī́rā¹
Accusative	धीरम् dhī́ram	धीरे dhī́re	धीराणि / धीरा¹ dhī́rāṇi / dhī́rā¹
Instrumental	धीरेण dhī́reṇa	धीराभ्याम् dhī́rābhyām	धीरैः / धीरेभिः¹ dhī́raiḥ / dhī́rebhiḥ¹
Dative	धीराय dhī́rāya	धीराभ्याम् dhī́rābhyām	धीरेभ्यः dhī́rebhyaḥ
Ablative	धीरात् dhī́rāt	धीराभ्याम् dhī́rābhyām	धीरेभ्यः dhī́rebhyaḥ
Genitive	धीरस्य dhī́rasya	धीरयोः dhī́rayoḥ	धीराणाम् dhī́rāṇām
Locative	धीरे dhī́re	धीरयोः dhī́rayoḥ	धीरेषु dhī́reṣu
Notes	¹Vedic

Etymology 3

From 'Etymology 1' (the ocean as an image of constancy)?

Noun

धीर • (dhī́ra) stem, m

1. the ocean, sea
2. name of बलि (bali)

Declension

Masculine a-stem declension of धीर (dhī́ra)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	धीरः dhī́raḥ	धीरौ / धीरा¹ dhī́rau / dhī́rā¹	धीराः / धीरासः¹ dhī́rāḥ / dhī́rāsaḥ¹
Vocative	धीर dhī́ra	धीरौ / धीरा¹ dhī́rau / dhī́rā¹	धीराः / धीरासः¹ dhī́rāḥ / dhī́rāsaḥ¹
Accusative	धीरम् dhī́ram	धीरौ / धीरा¹ dhī́rau / dhī́rā¹	धीरान् dhī́rān
Instrumental	धीरेण dhī́reṇa	धीराभ्याम् dhī́rābhyām	धीरैः / धीरेभिः¹ dhī́raiḥ / dhī́rebhiḥ¹
Dative	धीराय dhī́rāya	धीराभ्याम् dhī́rābhyām	धीरेभ्यः dhī́rebhyaḥ
Ablative	धीरात् dhī́rāt	धीराभ्याम् dhī́rābhyām	धीरेभ्यः dhī́rebhyaḥ
Genitive	धीरस्य dhī́rasya	धीरयोः dhī́rayoḥ	धीराणाम् dhī́rāṇām
Locative	धीरे dhī́re	धीरयोः dhī́rayoḥ	धीरेषु dhī́reṣu
Notes	¹Vedic

Etymology 4

Noun

धीर • (dhīra) stem, n

1. saffron

Declension

Neuter a-stem declension of धीर (dhīra)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	धीरम् dhīram	धीरे dhīre	धीराणि / धीरा¹ dhīrāṇi / dhīrā¹
Vocative	धीर dhīra	धीरे dhīre	धीराणि / धीरा¹ dhīrāṇi / dhīrā¹
Accusative	धीरम् dhīram	धीरे dhīre	धीराणि / धीरा¹ dhīrāṇi / dhīrā¹
Instrumental	धीरेण dhīreṇa	धीराभ्याम् dhīrābhyām	धीरैः / धीरेभिः¹ dhīraiḥ / dhīrebhiḥ¹
Dative	धीराय dhīrāya	धीराभ्याम् dhīrābhyām	धीरेभ्यः dhīrebhyaḥ
Ablative	धीरात् dhīrāt	धीराभ्याम् dhīrābhyām	धीरेभ्यः dhīrebhyaḥ
Genitive	धीरस्य dhīrasya	धीरयोः dhīrayoḥ	धीराणाम् dhīrāṇām
Locative	धीरे dhīre	धीरयोः dhīrayoḥ	धीरेषु dhīreṣu
Notes	¹Vedic

References

• Monier Williams (1899) “धीर”, in A Sanskrit–English Dictionary, […], new edition, Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 517, column 1.
• Hellwig, Oliver (2010-2024) “dhīra”, in DCS - The Digital Corpus of Sanskrit, Berlin, Germany.