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pu·ja also poo·ja (pjə)

n.
Hinduism

1. Any of various acts or forms of worship consisting primarily of prayers and offerings to a god.

2. Worship characterized by such acts.

[Sanskrit pūjā, perhaps (via a Prakrit form borrowed into Sanskrit) from Sanskrit *pṛñcā, a mixing, a filling up, satisfaction, from pṛṇakti, he mixes, fills, sates; see perə-² in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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