guru

The story

1. Sanskrit · derived fromगुरु“venerable, respectable”
2. Punjabi · borrowed fromਗੁਰੂ
3. Hindi · borrowed fromगुरु
4. English todayguru

Borrowed from Hindi गुरु (guru) / Punjabi ਗੁਰੂ (gurū), from Sanskrit गुरु (guru, “venerable, respectable”), originally "heavy" and in this sense cognate to English grieve and, more distantly, brute. Doublet of grave. A traditional, though flawed etymology based on the Advayataraka Upanishad (line 16) describes the syllables gu as “darkness” and ru as “destroyer”, thus ascribing the meaning of “one who destroys/dispels darkness” to the word.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 17th c. In Indian traditions: a spiritual teacher who transmits knowledge to a shishya.
• from 20th c. An influential advisor or mentor.