Papañca means proliferating with ignorance.

For example, SN 22.81 says 'contact' in dependent origination is contact with ignorance.

For example, MN 18 says papanca (arising following contact, feeling & perception) is/results in vexation & suffering.

SN 22.5 says the word 'samudaya' ('arising') means when the mind continues to keeping clinging to the five aggregates. Therefore, the word 'cessation' means when ignorance & clinging cease.

Suttas such as MN 140 say a Buddha does not die ('marana') because their mind is free from conceiving 'self'.

The 1st noble truth summarizes all suffering as attachment (upadana).

Since MN 18 says papanca is vexation & suffering, papanca must be similar to attachment.

AN 4.176 says the cessation of sense contact is appapanca or non-papanca. AN 4.176 accords with the definition of cessation in SN 22.5, namely, the cessation of ignorance & attachment towards the five aggregates.

AN 4.176 also says views about Buddhas & death are papanca. They are papanca because the word 'death' ('marana') does not apply to Buddhas (refer to SN 22.85).

Therefore, papanca means mental proliferation that produces suffering and is characterized by wrong views.

Papanca does not simply mean thinking, conceptualisation or differentiating. Papanca refers to ignorant thinking & foolish proliferating.

Papañca means proliferating with ignorance.

For example, SN 22.81 says 'contact' in dependent origination is 'contact with ignorance' ('avijjāsamphassajena').

For example, MN 18 says papanca (arising following contact, feeling & perception) is/results in vexation & suffering.

SN 22.5 says the word 'samudaya' ('arising') means when the mind continues to desire the five aggregates. Therefore, the word 'cessation' means when ignorance, desire & clinging cease.

Suttas such as MN 140 say a Buddha does not die ('marana') because their mind is free from conceiving 'self'.

The 1st noble truth summarizes all suffering as attachment (upadana).

Since MN 18 says papanca is vexation & suffering, papanca must be similar to attachment.

AN 4.174 says the cessation of sense contact is appapanca or non-papanca. AN 4.174 accords with the definition of cessation in SN 22.5, namely, the cessation of ignorance & attachment towards the five aggregates & sense contact.

AN 4.174 may also suggest views about Buddhas & death are papanca. They are certainly papanca because the word 'death' ('marana') does not apply to Buddhas (refer to SN 22.85).

Therefore, papanca appears to mean mental proliferation that produces suffering and is characterized by wrong views.

Papanca appears to not simply mean thinking, conceptualization or differentiating. Papanca appears to refer to ignorant thinking & foolish proliferating.