Prakrit

[ prah-krit, -kreet ]

/ ˈprɑ krɪt, -krit /

any of the vernacular Indic languages of the ancient and medieval periods, as distinguished from Sanskrit.

Origin of Prakrit

1780–90; < Sanskrit prākṛta, derivative of prakṛti; see prakriti

Pra·krit·ic, adjective

The language of these inscriptions is a Prakrit dialect and is closely connected with the literary Pali.

The American Journal of Archaeology, 1893-1 |Various
The syllable ava was transformed in Prakrit into o, and the ta into da.

Sagas from the Far East |Various
As in the Prakrit form, sī is employed for both genders, both numbers and all persons.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 4 |Various
We have seen that the word “Prakrit” means “natural” or “vernacular,” as opposed to the “purified” literary Sanskrit.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 14, Slice 4 |Various

In the formation of the plural the Prakrit declensions are very closely followed by Marathi.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 17, Slice 6 |Various

Prakrit

/ (ˈprɑːkrɪt) /

any of the vernacular Indic languages as distinguished from Sanskrit: spoken from about 300 bc to the Middle Ages See also Pali

Prakritic, adjective

C18: from Sanskrit prāktra original, from pra- before + kr to do, make + -ta indicating a participle