Word Meaning
जितनी
jitni
hiadjective / determiner (femini
Meaning
As much as; as many as; whatever amount of.
Detailed Meaning
In this couplet, 'jitni' serves as a relative quantifier denoting the totality of prayers and pleas the speaker had memorized. It conveys exhaustiveness, emphasizing that every single prayer saved for the beloved was squandered merely to appease the gatekeeper.
Etymology
Derived from Sanskrit यावत् (yāvat) through Middle Indo-Aryan Prakrit forms into Hindustani जितना/जितनी.
Usage
In classical poetry, it is frequently used to quantify intangible emotional states such as grief, desire, or prayer, often paired with or implying the correlative 'उतनी'.
Examples
As much patience as I possessed, it was all depleted.
However many grievances were in the heart, none could be spoken.
Synonyms
जिस क़दरजितनी भीयथा
Related Words
उतनीजितनाकितनी