Billy Joel - We Didn't Start the Fire (Official Video)

अग्निः (agniH) (Fire)


Etymology is my favorite part of any language.

We learn a lot from how ancient minds formed words which was based on logic and observations.

So let's take a look at the etymology of the word अग्निः(agniH).

Firstly there are many opinions on this as how the word अग्निः(agniH) was derived.

From Nighantu to Sthulasthivin, to Sakapuni's glossary  to Yaska's Nirukta, there are multiple opinions on this.
I will only focus on one today.
It is from the Nighantu.

In the Vedic lexicon, अग्निः(agniH) at the root level is अग्नि (agni) and is made up of the following:

अग्र (agra) + नीयते(nIyate) = अग्नि (agni)

अग्र (agra) = foremost

नीयते (nIyate) = to lead

अग्नि (agni) = Foremost leader.

Logically it makes a lot of sense as the Vedic rites involved fire to be the first and foremost to lead the oblations.