First Known Use: 1882
Dictionary
Theravada
noun Ther·a·va·da \ˌther-ə-ˈvä-də\
Definition of THERAVADA
: a conservative branch of Buddhism comprising sects chiefly in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia and adhering to the original Pali scriptures alone and to the nontheistic ideal of nirvana for a limited select number — compare mahayana
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Origin of THERAVADA
Pali theravāda, literally, doctrine of the elders
Rhymes with THERAVADA
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