1.
[syn: Vedic literature, Veda]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Veda \Ve"da\ (v[=a]"d[.a]or v[=e]"d[.a]; 277), n. [Skr. v[=e]da,
properly, knowledge, from vid to know. See Wit.]
The ancient sacred literature of the Hindus; also, one of the
four collections, called Rig-Veda, Yajur-Veda,
Sama-Veda, and Atharva-Veda, constituting the most
ancient portions of that literature.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The language of the Vedas is usually called
Vedic Sanskrit, as distinguished from the later and more
settled form called
classical Sanskrit.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
Veda
n 1: (from the Sanskrit word for `knowledge') any of the most
ancient sacred writings of Hinduism written in early
Sanskrit; traditionally believed to comprise the Samhitas,
the Brahmanas, the Aranyakas, and the Upanishads [syn:
Vedic literature, Veda]