vā

the syllable “va” Kp-a.109 (with ref. to ending ˚vā in Bhagavā, which Bdhgh exp^ls as “va-kāraṃ dīghaṃ katvā,” i.e. a lengthening of va); Snp-a.76 (see below va³).

indeclinable part. of disjunction: “or”; always enclitic Kp viii. (itthiyā purisassa vā; mātari pitari vā pi). Usually repeated vā-vā (is it so-) or, either-or, e.g. Snp.1024 (Brahmā vā Indo vā pi); Dhp.1 (bhāsati vā karoti vā); Pv-a.74 (putto vā dhītā vā natthi?)
■ with negation in second place: whether-or not, or not, e.g. hoti vā no vā is there or is there not DN.i.61; taṃ patthehi vā mā vā Vv-a.226
■ Combined with other emphatic particles (na) vā pana not even Pv.ii.6#9 (manussena amanussena vā pana); vā pi or even Snp.382 (ye vā pi ca); Pv.ii.6#14 (isayo vā pi ye santā etc.); iti vā Cnd.420; atha vā Dhp.83 (sukhena atha vā dukhena); uda… vā Snp.232 (kāyena vācā uda cetasā vā)
■ In verse vā is sometimes shortened to va, e.g. devo va Brahmā vā Snp.1024: see va⁴.

Ved. vā, Av. vā, Gr. η ̓́, Lat
■ ve