apati

 

In Sanskrit, apati most commonly means “without a husband” or 

“without a master,” formed from a‑ (negation) + pati (“husband, lord”).

Core Sanskrit meaning

The primary Sanskrit sense of apati (अपति) is an adjective meaning

“without a husband” or “without a master.”

This is explicitly given in multiple dictionary entries

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:

• a‑pati = a (negation) + pati (“husband, lord”).
• Used for a woman who is unmarried or widowed.
• Also used in Vedic texts to mean “not a husband / not a master.”

Examples from the sources:

• “Without a husband, unmarried” (Apte Dictionary)

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• “Not a master or husband” (Atharva‑Veda 8.6.16)

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  2 Sources

Grammatical notes

• Form: adjective (m., f., n.)
• Declension: follows the pattern of words ending in ‑i (like pati)

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• Compound type: tatpuruṣa or bahuvrīhi depending on usage

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Distinguishing similar-looking words

The search results include several different words that look similar but

are not the same as apati. These should not be confused:

1. apaṭī (अपटी) — unrelated meaning

A feminine noun meaning “a cloth screen or curtain,” especially 

around a tent

Wisdom Library

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This comes from paṭa (“cloth”), not from pati.

2. āpati (आपति) — different root

From the root ā‑pat, meaning “coming in haste, rushing on” or “incessantly

moving (as the wind)” in Vedic usage

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3. apātī / apāti — rare forms

Listed in the results as a verb form meaning “to escape” in certain

Brāhmaṇa texts

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Summary

apati (अपति) = “without a husband / without a master” (main Sanskrit meaning).

apaṭī (अपटी) = “cloth screen, curtain” (different word).

āpati (आपति) = “rushing, coming quickly; the wind” (Vedic).

All three appear in Sanskrit literature but have distinct etymologies

and meanings.