Dictionary lookup
Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)
- कथं (in comp. for कथम्; at the beginning of an adjective compound it may also have the sense of किम्).
Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1890)
- कथं ind. [किम्-प्रकारार्थेथमु कादेशश्च] 1 How, in what way, in what manner, whence; कथं मारात्मके त्वयि विश्वासः H. 1; अथ स वैद्यः कथं Mu. 2 ‘well how did the physician fare’; सानुबंधाः कथं न स्युः संपदो मे निरापदः R. 1. 64, 3. 44; कथमात्मानं निवेदयामि कथं वात्मापहारं करोमि Ś. 1 (where the speaker is doubtful as to the propriety of what he says).2 Oh what! indeed! (expressing surprise); कथं मामेवोद्दिशति Ś. 6.3 It is often connected with the particles इव, नाम, नु, वा, or स्विद् in the sense of, ‘how indeed,’ ‘how possibly’, ‘I should like to know’, (where the question is generalized); कथं वा गम्यते U. 3; कथं नामैतत् U. 6.4 When connected with the particles चित्, चन or अपि it means ‘in every way’, ‘on any account’, ‘somehow’, ‘with great difficulty’, ‘with great efforts’; तस्य स्थित्वा कथमपि पुरः Me. 3; कथमप्युन्नमितं न चुंबितं तु Ś. 3. 25; न लोकवृत्तं वर्तेत वृत्तिहेतोः कथंचन Ms. 4. 11, 5. 143; कथंचिदीशा मनसां बभूवुः Ku. 3. 34; कथं कथमपि उत्थितः Pt. 1; विसृज्य कथमप्युमां Ku. 6. 3; Me. 22; Amaru. 12, 39, 50, 73; Pt. 1.5 Scarcely, hardly; कथमपि भुवनेऽस्मिंस्तादृशा संभवंति Māl. 2. 9.Comp.— कथिकः an inquisitive person.— कारं ind. in what manner, how; कथंकारमनालंबा कीर्तिर्द्यामधिरोहति Śi. 2. 52; कथंकारं भुंक्ते Sk; N. 17. 126.— प्रमाण a. of what measure.— भावः what state.— भूत a.1 how being.2 of what nature or kind (oft. used by commentators).— रूप a. of what shape.— वीर्य a. of what power.