Virtuous woman
Explanation
The term "Sati" is derived from the Sanskrit word Sat, which means "truth." Consequently, "Sati" literally translates to a "virtuous woman" or a "chaste woman" who is devoted to her husband. In Hindu mythology, Sati was also the name of the wife of Lord Shiva, who consumed herself in fire to protest her father's insult to her husband.
Historically, the term came to be associated with the practice of a widow immolating herself on her husband's funeral pyre. While the act itself was often referred to as Sahagamana (going with) or Sahamarana (dying with), the woman performing the act was called a Sati (a virtuous wife). Over time, colonial administrators and English usage applied the term "Sati" (often spelled Suttee) to the practice itself rather than the person.
Key Takeaway: Although "Sati" is commonly associated with the practice of widow burning, the etymological meaning of the word is a "virtuous" or "truthful" woman.