rūpaṁ

neuter form, figure, appearance, principle of form, etc.

1. Definitions. According to P. expositors rūpa takes its designation fr. ruppati, e.g. “ruppanato rūpaṃ” Vism.588; “ruppan’ aṭṭhena r.” Vb-a.3; “rūpa-rūpaṃ ruppana sabhāvena yuttaṃ” Cpd. 156⁷ (where ruppati is, not quite correctly, given as “change”), “ruppatī ti: tasmā rūpan ti vuccati” SN.iii.86; other def^ns are “rūpayatī ti rūpaṃ” (with cakkhu & the other 10 āyatanas) Vb-a.45; and more scientifically: “paresu rūp’ ādisu cakkhu-paṭihanana lakkhaṇaṃ rūpaṃ Vism.446
   ■ Of modern interpretations & discussions see e.g. ; Dhs. trsl. introd. ch. vi. (pp. 41–⁠63, or ²48–71) Dial. ii.244; Expos. 67ⁿ; Cpd. 270 sq. (where objections are raised to translation “form,” and as better (philosophical) terms “matter,” “material quality” are recommended). See also loka for similar etym
2. (lit.) appearance, form, figure Dhs.597 sq. (= form either contrasted with what is unseen, or taken for both seen and unseen), 751; Mhvs.27, Mhvs.30 (sīha-vyagghādirūpāni representations of lions, tigers etc.); Mhvs.30, Mhvs.68 (ravicanda-tāra-rūpāni id.); Mhvs.36, Mhvs.31 (loha˚ bronze statue) Thag-a.257
   ■ Esp. beautiful form, beauty SN.iv.275; Pv.ii.9#58 (as one of the 10 attributes, with sadda etc. of distinction: see also below DN ii.a); Mil.285; Mhvs.20, Mhvs.4 (rūpa-māninī proud of her beauty); Pv-a.89- surūpa very beautiful Thag-a.72; durūpa of evil form ugly AN.ii.203 sq. (dubbaṇṇa +)
   ■ In phrase rūpaṃ sikkhati Vin.i.77 = Vin.iv.129 the meaning is doubtful; it may be “to study drawing, or arts & craft,” or (with Mrs. Rh. D.) “weights & measures,” or (w. Hardy “money changing.” It is said that through this occupation the eyes become bad; it is opposed to gaṇanā
3. (-˚) of such & such a form, like, kind, of a certain condition or appearance. In this applⁿ very frequent & similar to E -hood, or Ger -heit, i.e. an abstract formation Often untranslatable because of the latter character. It is similar to; kāya (cp. explⁿ of ātura rūpa Vv.83#14 by abhitunna -kāya Vv-a.328), but not so much with ref. to life & feeling as to appearance and looks. E.g. aneka˚ Snp.1079 (= anekavidha Cnd.54) adissamāna˚ invisible Pv-a.6 (lit. with invisible form) ummatta˚ as if mad, under the appearance of madness like a madman Pv.i.8#1; Pv.ii.6#3; eva˚ in such a condition Pv.ii.1#5; tapassī˚ appearing to be an ascetic Pv.i.3#2 tāraka˚ the (shapes of the) stars Dhs.617; deva˚ as a deva Pv-a.92. Pleonastically e.g. in: anupatta˚ attain