préposition & préfixe (invariable) de direction ou de localisation : jusqu'à, vers (en direction d'un but on d'une fin) ; sur, au-dessus de, supérieur ; en plus de, hors de ; ici (emploi de localisation)
adhi [Vedic adhi； base of demonstr. pron. a° + suffix-dhi，corresponding in form to Gr. e）/n-qa “on this” = here，cp. o（/qi where，in meaning equal to adv. of direction Gr. dέ （toward） = Ohg. zuo，E. to].
A. Prep. and pref. of direction & place：（a） as direction denoting a movement towards a definite end or goal = up to，over，toward，to，on （see C 1 a）. – （b） as place where （prep. c. Loc. or abs.） = on top of，above，over，in； in addition to. Often simply deictic “here” （e. g.） ajjhatta = adhi + ātman “this self here” （see C 1 b）.
B. adhi is freq. as modification pref.，i. e. in loose compn. with n. or v. and as first part of a double prefixcpd. ，like ajjhā° （adhi + ā），adhippa° （adhi + pra），but never occurs as a fixed base，i. e. as 2nd part of a pref.‹-› cpd.，like ā in paccā° （prati + ā），paryā° （pari + ā） or ava in paryava° （pari + ava） or ud in abhyud° （abhi + ud），samud° （sam + ud）. As such （i. e. modification） it is usually intensifying，meaning “over above，in addition，quite，par excellence，super”–（adhideva a super-god，cp. ati-deva），but very often has lost this power & become meaningless （like E. up in “shut up，fill up，join up etc），esp. in double pref.-cpds. （ajjhāvasati “to dwell here-in” = āvasati “to dwell in，to inhabit”） （see C 2）. – In the explns of P. Commentators adhi is often （sometimes far-fetchedly） interpreted by abhibhū “overpowering” see e. g. C. on adhiṭṭhāti & adhiṭṭhita； and by virtue of this intens. meaning we find a close relationship between the prefixes ati， adhi and abhi，all interchanging dialectically so that P. adhi often represents Sk. ati or abhi； thus adhi › ati in adhikusala，°kodhita，°jeguccha，°brahmā； adhi › abhi in adhippatthita，°pātcti，°ppāya，°ppeta，°bādheti，°bhū，°vāha. Cp. also ati IV.
C. The main applications of adhi are the foll.：1. primary meaning （in verbs & verb derivations）：either direction in which or place where，depending on the meaning of the verb determinate，either lit. or fig. – （a） where to：adhiyita （adhi + ita） “gone on to or into” = studied； ajjhesita （adhi + esita） “wished for”； °kata “put to” i. e. commissioned； °kāra commission； °gacchati “to go on to & reach it” = obtain； °gama attainment； °gaṇhāti to overtake = surpass，°peta （adhi + pra + ita） “gone in to” = meant，understood； °pāya sense meaning，intention； °bhāsati to speak to = address； °mutta intent upon； °vacana “saying in addition” = attribute，metaphor，cp. Fr. sur-nom； °vāsāna assent，°vāseti to dwell in，give in = consent. – （b） where：°tiṭṭhati （°ṭṭhāti） to stand by = look after，perform； °ṭṭhāna place where； °vasati to inhabit； °sayana “lying in”，inhabiting. – 2. secondary meaning （as emphatic modification）：（a） with nouns or adjectives：adhi-jeguccha very detestable； °matta “in an extreme measure”，°pa supreme lord； °pacca lordship； °paññā higher，additional wisdom； °vara the very best； °sīla thorough character or morality. – （b） with verbs （in double pref.-cpds.）； adhi + ava： ajjhogāheti plunge into； ajjhoṭhapeti to bring down to （its destination）； °otthata covered completely； °oharati to swallow right down. adhi + ā： ajjhappatta having reached （the end）； ajjhapīḷita quite overwhelmed； °āvuttha inhabited； °ārūhati grown up over； °āsaya desire，wish （cp. Ger. n. Anliegen & v. daranliegen）. adhi + upa： ajjhupagacchati to reach，obtain； °upeti to receive； °upekkhati “to look all along over” = to superintend adhi + pra： adhippattheti to long for，to desire.
Note. The contracted （assimilation-）form of adhi before vowels is ajjh- （q. v.）.
adhi prép. sur, au-dessus de <loc.> | supérieur; en sus, en addition | hors de <abl.> | concernant.