ˈgu̇nə, ˈgü- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Sanskrit guṇa thread, quality
1. : one of three primal qualities or elements of matter according to Sankhya philosophy — see rajas , sattva , tamas
2. : a Sanskrit ablaut grade that strengthens the simple vowels by prefixing an a element to each so that i or ī becomes e (for earlier ai ), u or ū becomes o (for earlier au ), r becomes ar, and ḷ becomes al, but a and ā remain unchanged