तत्व tatva

तत्व tattvă [S.], m. 1. real state or nature; essence; the supreme spirit. 2. one of the five traditionally distinguished elementary substances (ether, air, fire, water, earth). 3. chem. an element. 4. a basic principle; an axiom. 5. an element, aspect or factor (in a system). 6. philos. the real nature of the human soul (as identical with the all-pervading supreme spirit). — तत्वज्ञ, m. one who knows the real nature of things; a philosopher. तत्व-ज्ञान, m. knowledge of the real nature of things, or of any matter; philosophical knowledge. ˚ई, m. one who knows the real nature of things; a specialist; a philosopher.