Namaste

[Benjamin Zimmer]

On Wed, May 28, 2008 at 3:16 PM, Benjamin Barrett <gogaku at ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>
> I don't see this word in the online AHD. I found a citation where its meaning is taken for granted in Michael
> Chrichton's _Next_, page 491 (paperback, Harper, 2006):
>
> Compared to the other choices, the name Solana Canyon conveyed a muted, understated quality in keeping
> with a resort that charged thousands of dollars a day to rejuvenate the bodies, minds, and spirits of its clients.
> This was accomplished through a combination of yoga, massage, meditation, spiritual counseling, and diet
> help, all delivered by staff who greeted guests with prayerful hands and a heartfelt "Namaste."
>
> The word "namaste" is not italicized, but the quotes and capitalization leave the intended status of the word
> ambiguous.  In other cases, he uses a comma and sentence capitalization (or just italics) to indicate quotations.
> Without the comma, it's unclear whether the capitalization is intended to indicate that the word is foreign.
>
> In any case, the above citation is all he provides for context.

RHUD: http://dictionary.infoplease.com/namaste
Encarta: http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861632328/namaste.html

Also in NOAD and OED3 (first cite 1942). Not yet in MWCD, though it's
been suggested by a few Open Dictionary contributors:

http://www3.merriam-webster.com/opendictionary/newword_search.php?word=namaste


--Ben Zimmer

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