Ratta
Ratta,2 (nt.) & (poet.) rattā (f.) [Epic Sk.rātra; Vedic rātra only in cpd.aho-rātraṁ.Semantically an abstr.formation in collect.meaning “the space of a night’s time,” hence “interval of time” in general.Otherwise rātri:see under ratti] (rarely) night; (usually) time in general.Occurs only --°,with expressions giving a definite time.Independently (besides cpds.mentioned below) only at one (doubtful) passage,viz.Sn.1071,where BB MSS.read rattam-ahā for rattaṁ aho,which corresponds to the Vedic phrase aho-rātraṁ (=P.ahorattaṁ).The P.T.S.ed.reads nattaṁ; SnA 593 reads nattaṁ,but expls as rattin-divaṁ,whereas Nd2 538 reads rattaṁ & expls:“rattaṁ vuccati ratti,ahā (sic lege!) ti divaso,rattiñ ca divañ ca.” -- Otherwise only in foll.adv.expressions (meaning either “time” or “night”):Instr.eka-rattena in one night J.I,64; satta° after one week (lit.a seven-night) Sn.570.-- Acc.sg.cira-rattaṁ a long time Sn.665; dīgha° id.[cp.BSk.dīrgha-rātraṁ freq.] Sn.22; M.I,445; aḍḍha° at “halfnight,” i.e.midnight A.III,407; pubba-ratt’âpararattaṁ one night after the other (lit.the last one and the next) DhA.IV,129.-- Acc.pl.cira rattāni a long time J.V,268.-- Loc.in var.forms,viz.vassa-ratte in the rainy season J.V,38 (Kern,Toev.s.v.gives wrongly III,37,143; aḍḍha-ratte at midnight PvA.152; aḍḍha‹-› rattāyaṁ at midnight Vv 8116 (=aḍḍharattiyaṁ VvA.315); divā ca ratto ca day & night Vv 315 (=rattiyaṁ VvA.130); cira-rattāya a long time J.V,267; Pv.I,94.
--andhakāra the dark of night,nightly darkness Vin.IV,268 (oggate suriye); M.I,448.--ûparata abstaining from food at night D.I,5 (cp.DA.I,77).--ññu of long standing,recognised D.I,48 (in phrase:r.cira-pabbajito addhagato etc.; expld at DA.I,143 as “pabbajjato paṭṭhāya atikkantā bahū rattiyo jānātī ti r.”); A.II,27 (here the pl.rattaññā,as if fr.sg.ratta-ñña); Sn.p.92 (therā r.cira-pabbajitā; the expln at SnA 423 is rather fanciful with the choice of either=ratana-ññu,i.e.knowing the gem of Nibbāna,or=bahu-ratti-vidū,i.e.knowing many nights); ThA.141.A f.abstr.°ññutā “recognition” is found at M.I,445 (spelt rataññūtā,but v.l.°utā).--samaye (Loc.,adv.) at the time of (night) J.I,63 (aḍḍha-ratta° at midnight),264 (id.); IV,74 (vassa° in the rainy season); PvA.216 (aḍḍha°).(Page 564)