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Hinayana

(hē′nə yä′nə)

noun

the oldest major movement or school in Buddhism, found especially in Sri Lanka and SE Asia: it emphasizes the attainment of nirvana through meditation and monastic discipline

Origin: Sans hīnayāna, lit., lesser vehicle

See Hinayana in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Offensive Theravada Buddhism.

Origin:

Origin: Sanskrit Hīnayānam, lesser vehicle (as contrasted with Mahāyānam, greater vehicle; see Mahayana)

Origin: : hīna-, inferior; see ghē- in Indo-European roots

Origin: + yānam, vehicle, way; see ei- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms:

Hiˌna·yaˈnist noun

Hiˌna·ya·nisˈtic (-yä-nĭsˈtĭk) adjective

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