Sanskrit dictionary (beta)

[चाय्-तु की आदेशः Uṇ.1.73]

1. A flag, banner; चीनांशुकमिव केतोः प्रतिवातं नीयमानस्य Ś.1.33;
2. A chief, head, leader, foremost, any eminent person (Often times at the end of comp.); मनुष्यवाचा मनुवंशकेतुम् R.2.33;14.7; कुलस्य केतुः स्फीतस्य (राघवः) Rām.
3. A comet, meteor; Bhāg.2.6.15; Ms.1.38.
4. A sign, mark.
5. Brightness, clearness.
6. A ray of light; प्रययौ कान्तिमिव द्रुमाब्जकेतुम् Bu. Ch.5.3; Bhāg.8.6.15. Compare also 'केतुर्द्युतौ पताकायाम्' इति विश्वः.
7. The descending node considered as the ninth planet, and the body or trunk of the demon सैंहिकेय (the head being regarded as Rāhu); क्रूर- ग्रहः स केतुश्चन्द्रं संपूर्णमण्डलमिदानीम् Mu.1.6.
8. Day-time.
9. Apparition, form, shape.
10. Intellect, judgement; नि केतुना जनानां चिकेथे पूतदक्षसा Rv.5.66.4.
11. A pigmy race.
12. A disease.
13. An enemy.

1. masculine gender (from √4. चित्), bright appearance, clearness, brightness (often plural, "rays of light") fg-veda VS. AV.
2. masculine gender lamp, flame, torch ibidem
3. masculine gender day-time S3a1n3khBr.
4. masculine gender (Naigh. iii, 9) apparition, form, shape fg-veda Pa1rGr2.
5. masculine gender sign, mark, ensign, flag, banner fg-veda AV. MBh. etc.
6. masculine gender a chief, leader, eminent person fg-veda R. iv, 28, 18 Ragh. ii, 33 BhP.
7. masculine gender intellect, judgement, discernment (?) fg-veda v, 66, 4 AV. x, 2, 12
8. masculine gender any unusual or striking phenomenon, comet, meteor, falling star AdbhBr. Mn. i, 38 VarBr2S. BhP. etc.
9. masculine gender the dragon's tail or descending node (considered in astronomy as the 9th planet, and in mythol. as the body of the demon Sain6hikeya सैंहिकेय [son of Sin6hika1 सिंहिका] which was severed from the head or Ra1hu राहु by Vishn2u विष्णु at the churning of the ocean, but was rendered immortal by having tasted the Amr2ita अमृत) Hariv. 4259 R. VP.
10. masculine gender "a pigmy race" see -गण below
11. masculine gender disease Lexicographers
12. masculine gender an enemy Lexicographers
13. masculine gender Name of a son of Agni अग्नि (author of fg-veda x, 156) RAnukr.
14. masculine gender (with the patronymic Va1jya वाज्य) VBr.
15. masculine gender Name of a Da1nava दानव Hariv. 198
16. masculine gender of a son (of R2ishabha ऋषभ BhP. v, 4, 10; of the 4th Manu मनु, viii, 1, 27)
17. masculine gender अरुण्/आः केत्/अवः, "red apparitions", a class of spirits (a kind of sacrificial fire is called after them आरुणकेतुक quod vide) AV. xi, 10, 1 feminine and 7 TA1r. MBh. xii, 26, 7.