Vedic antárikṣa-: etymology and formation.
Résumé
The Vedic noun antárikṣa- , neuter (RV +) refers to the 'intermediary space', between earth and heaven. The paper reviews the previous unsuccessful or abortive proposals as for its etymology. It is explained as based on a prepositional phrase combining the adverb antár(i) 'between' and the dual, accusative, of kṣám- ‘earth’, making the so-called elliptical dual, and meaning 'earth [and heaven]'.