Dear Aleix,
The taddhita word is analysed as thira + ṇa. The taddhita affix ṇa is added
to the kita word thira, ṇ causes the i to change to e. I give below a
transcript (not exact) of the etymological matter of the article giving the
basis for the meanings. The impression I get from the first quote (Pj II) is
that a thera is someone who is well-established in the Sāsana; a pillar of
the community, so to speak.
thera-1 (ti) [thira+ṇa || thi+ira=ra [?] ||
sāsane thirabhavaṃ pattoti thero ||
suttani | ṭṭha 2 || 79 || thiranti daḷhībhavantīti
therā | sīlakkhandhādiguṇā || te etesa-
matthīti therā | mahākassapādayo || atha
vā ṭhanti pavattanti sampayuttadhammā etenātī
ti | ṭhassa tho | sīlakkhandhaguṇo || thi
etesamatthīti thero | mahākassapāda-
yo || kaṅkhā | yo | mahāṭī | 1 || 16 || (-maṇi-
mañjū | 1 || | 11 ||) thī-ṭṭh therī [?] || (sthavira saṃ)]
I also came across a quote in the Dhātumālā that supports thera in the sense
of "aged' (jiṇno).
Best wishes,
Jim
----- Original Message -----
From: "Aleix Ruiz Falqués ruydaleixo@... [palistudy]"
<palistudy@yahoogroups.com>
To: <palistudy@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: July 24, 2016 7:18 AM
Subject: Re: [palistudy] Digest Number 1627 (thera)
Dear Jim,
That is an interesting derivation. But how is the taddhita analysed then?
What does it actually mean? Because it implies a form of taddhita based on
thira "hard, powerful", Skt. sthira, which does not mean ancient or elder
as sthavira/thera does. Is there any further explanation in the dictionary?
Thank you in advance!
Best wishes,
Aleix