As a Hindi name
होत्रा · noun · feminine
स्तवन । स्तुति · यज्ञ में आहूत देवता · यज्ञ — Śabdasāgara
Cited formation "होत्रा" is होत्र + -आ: होत्र means "An oblation of clarified butter", and the suffix -आ forms abstract, agent, action or instrumental nouns (masc.); also past participles. CHD Basic Grammar App. I §8(3) — cited from the extracted rule table — base gloss: Platts (1884), digital edition courtesy DSAL, University of Chicago
Cited formation "होत्रा" is होत्र + -आ: होत्र means "An oblation of clarified butter", and the suffix -आ forms 'having' (adjectives). CHD Basic Grammar App. I §9(1) — cited from the extracted rule table — base gloss: Platts (1884), digital edition courtesy DSAL, University of Chicago
As a Sanskrit word
Meaning
the function or office of a priest (esp. of the Hotrakas, also applied to the persons of the Hotrakas)
Verified derivationMultiple readings (3)Why this matches what you typed
M1 · same meaning "hotrā" is the instrumental of "hotṛ" — the same word in a different grammatical case.
M1 · same meaning "hotrā" is the feminine form of "hotra" — the same word with the feminine ending (nominative).
M3 · meaning shifts "hotrā" is derived from "ho" with the trā suffix — a related word whose meaning shifts, so both meanings are shown.
ho ind. (a vocative particle [g. cādi] used in calling to a person or in challenging) ho! hallo! &c. (also expressive of surprise &c.), TS.; &c.
ho ind. 1 A vocative particle used in calling to a person or in challenging. 2 Of surprise.
hotrā (ā), f., see below.
1. hotrā f. (for 2. See p. 1308, col. 3) the function or office of a priest (esp. of the Hotrakas, also applied to the persons of the Hotrakas), Br. : ŚrS.
Related forms
Dictionary citations
hotrā (ā), f., see below.
1. hotrā f. (for 2. See p. 1308, col. 3) the function or office of a priest (esp. of the Hotrakas, also applied to the persons of the Hotrakas), Br. : ŚrS.
2. hotrā f. (for 1. See p. 1306, col. 1) calling, call, invocation (also personified), RV.; TBr.
hotrā 1 A sacrifice. 2 Praise. 3 Ved. Speech.
hotṛ &c. See p. 1306, col. 1.
hotṛ m. (fr. √ 1. hu) an offerer of an oblation or burnt-offering (with fire), sacrificer, priest, (esp.) a priest who at a sacrifice invokes the gods or recites the Ṛg-veda, a Ṛg-veda pr˚ (one of the 4 kinds of officiating priest See ṛtvij, p. 224; properly the Hotṛ priest has 3 assistants, sometimes called Puruṣas, viz. the Maitrā-varuṇa, Acchā-vāka, and Grāvastut; to these are sometimes added three others, the Brāhmaṇācchaṃsin, Agnīdhra or Agnīdh, and Potṛ, though these last are properly assigned to the Brāhman priest; sometimes the Neṣṭṛ is substituted for the Grāva-stut), RV. &c. &c.
hotra n. sacrificing, the function or office of the Hotṛ, RV.; AV.; ŚBr.; Kāṭh.
a burnt-offering, oblation with fire, sacrifice, RV.; PañcavBr.; ŚāṅkhŚr.; MBh.
ho ind. (a vocative particle [g. cādi] used in calling to a person or in challenging) ho! hallo! &c. (also expressive of surprise &c.), TS.; &c.
ho ind. 1 A vocative particle used in calling to a person or in challenging. 2 Of surprise.
Alternative readings
More than one analysis survives full verification. That ambiguity is real, so we show every reading rather than pick one silently.
Caveats
Sources contain errors and engines have limits; every claim above carries its citation so you can verify it. This is guidance about names and their sources — not religious or astrological consultation. How we work · Our sources