حرف

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Form 1حَرَفَ الشَّىْءَ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ5 senses

muḍāriʿـُيَفْعُلُ·ـِيَفْعِلُmaṣdarحَرْفٌ حَرْفَةٌ

Core sense — he turned, or altered, a thing from its way; he earned a livinggenerated

1.1he altered it from its proper way—حرّفهُ

he turned the thing from its proper way, or altered it from it.

Maṣdar تَحْرِيفٌ; it has this latter meaning, or an intensive sense of this kind.

the altering of words from their proper meanings—تَحْرِيفُ الكَلِمِ عَنْ مَوَاضِعِهِ

the perverting of language—تحريف

In agreement with this explanation the verb is used in the Qur'ān 4:48 and elsewhere.

Or the altering of a word in form, as in writing بُرْدٌ for بَرْدٌ or the other way round. [And the mistranscribing of a word in any manner: commonly used in this sense in the lexicons and the like: or the altering of a word by substituting one letter, or more, for another. See also صَحَّفَ.]

Qur’ān 4:45 approximate — somewhere between 4:43 and 4:64 Lane cites “Kur iv. 48”

Qur’ān 4:46 located by this root inside the range Lane’s citation allows

مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ يُحَرِّفُونَ ٱلْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِۦ وَيَقُولُونَ سَمِعْنَا وَعَصَيْنَا وَٱسْمَعْ غَيْرَ مُسْمَعٍ وَرَٰعِنَا لَيًّۢا بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ وَطَعْنًا فِى ٱلدِّينِ ۚ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا وَٱسْمَعْ وَٱنظُرْنَا لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ وَأَقْوَمَ وَلَـٰكِن لَّعَنَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

Of the Jews there are those who displace words from their (right) places, and say: "We hear and we disobey"; and "Hear what is not Heard"; and "Ra'ina"; with a twist of their tongues and a slander to Faith. If only they had said: "What hear and we obey"; and "Do hear"; and "Do look at us"; it would have been better for them, and more proper; but Allah hath cursed them for their Unbelief; and but few of them will believe.Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur’ān (1934)

1.2

See also form 7.

2.1.4the putting in motion, or into commotion—تَحْرِيفٌ

The same as تَحْرِيكٌ.

2.1.5[he made a sign with his hand,] imitating with it the cutting of a sword with its edge—قَالَ بِيَدِهِ فَحَرَّفَهَا كَأَنَّهُ يُرِيدُ القَتْلَ

Occurs in a tradition.

Qur’ānic occurrences Form 2

2:75

أَفَتَطْمَعُونَ أَن يُؤْمِنُوا۟ لَكُمْ وَقَدْ كَانَ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمْ يَسْمَعُونَ كَلَـٰمَ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُحَرِّفُونَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا عَقَلُوهُ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ

Can ye (o ye men of Faith) entertain the hope that they will believe in you?- Seeing that a party of them heard the Word of Allah, and perverted it knowingly after they understood it.

4:46

5:13

فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَـٰقَهُمْ لَعَنَّـٰهُمْ وَجَعَلْنَا قُلُوبَهُمْ قَـٰسِيَةً ۖ يُحَرِّفُونَ ٱلْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِۦ ۙ وَنَسُوا۟ حَظًّا مِّمَّا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِهِۦ ۚ وَلَا تَزَالُ تَطَّلِعُ عَلَىٰ خَآئِنَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّنْهُمْ ۖ فَٱعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَٱصْفَحْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

But because of their breach of their covenant, We cursed them, and made their hearts grow hard; they change the words from their (right) places and forget a good part of the message that was sent them, nor wilt thou cease to find them- barring a few - ever bent on (new) deceits: but forgive them, and overlook (their misdeeds): for Allah loveth those who are kind.

5:41

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرَّسُولُ لَا يَحْزُنكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلْكُفْرِ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِأَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَلَمْ تُؤْمِن قُلُوبُهُمْ ۛ وَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ ۛ سَمَّـٰعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ سَمَّـٰعُونَ لِقَوْمٍ ءَاخَرِينَ لَمْ يَأْتُوكَ ۖ يُحَرِّفُونَ ٱلْكَلِمَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَوَاضِعِهِۦ ۖ يَقُولُونَ إِنْ أُوتِيتُمْ هَـٰذَا فَخُذُوهُ وَإِن لَّمْ تُؤْتَوْهُ فَٱحْذَرُوا۟ ۚ وَمَن يُرِدِ ٱللَّهُ فِتْنَتَهُۥ فَلَن تَمْلِكَ لَهُۥ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يُرِدِ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُطَهِّرَ قُلُوبَهُمْ ۚ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا خِزْىٌ ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ

O Messenger! let not those grieve thee, who race each other into unbelief: (whether it be) among those who say "We believe" with their lips but whose hearts have no faith; or it be among the Jews,- men who will listen to any lie,- will listen even to others who have never so much as come to thee. They change the words from their (right) times and places: they say, "If ye are given this, take it, but if not, beware!" If any one's trial is intended by Allah, thou hast no authority in the least for him against Allah. For such - it is not Allah's will to purify their hearts. For them there is disgrace in this world, and in the Hereafter a heavy punishment.

Occurrences of this form in the Qur’ān, not Lane’s choice of verse. They show the word in use; they do not say which sense above applies. Where more occur than are shown, the shortest āyāt are chosen.

Show Lane's original text

see 1, in two places. [Hence,] طَاعُونٌ يُحَرِّفُ القُلُوبَ [A pestilence] causing the hearts [of those witnessing its effects] to turn away, and be aloof: (K:) occurring in a trad.: or, accord. to one relation, يُحَوِّفُ القلوب , (TA,) i. e., turning the hearts from confidence, and inclining them to removal and flight. (K and TA in art. حوف .) تَحْرِيفُ القَلَمِ The nibbing the writing-reed obliquely; (S, * K, * TA;) making the right tooth of the nib higher [i. e. longer] than the left. (TA.) You say also, حَرَّفَ القَطَّةَ [He made the nibbing oblique]. (TA.) And حرّف السِّكِّينَ فِى حَالِ القَطِّ [He turned the knife obliquely in nibbing]. (TA.) See also 7. تَحْرِيفٌ also signifies The putting in motion, or into a state of commotion; syn. تَحْرِيكٌ . (TA.) قَالَ بِيَدِهِ فَحَرَّفَهَا كَأَنَّهُ يُرِيدُ القَتْلَ , in a trad., means [He made a sign with his hand,] and imitated with it the cutting of a sword with its edge. (TA.)

Form 3حُورِفَ4 senses

Core sense — he was debarred from the means of subsistence; he requited himgenerated

3.1such a one was made to find difficulty in his buying and selling, and was straitened in his living—حُورِفَ كَسْبُ فُلَانٍ

He was debarred from the means of subsistence; because the man spoken of is aloof from the means of subsistence.

As though his means of subsistence were turned away from him; or he had his gain, or earnings, turned away from him.

In a tradition of Ibn-Mesʿood: مَوْتُ المُؤْمِنِ عَرَقُ الجَبِينِ تَبْقَى عَلَيْهِ البَقِيَّةِمِنَ الذُّنُوبِ فَيُحَارِفُ بِهَا عِنْدَ المَوْتِ, that is, [the death of the believer is accompanied with sweating of the side of the forehead: some sins remain chargeable against him, and] he is made to find difficulty by them [in dying], so that his sins may be lessened.

3.2

مُحَارَفَةٌ also has a meaning like مُفَاخَرَةٌ.

Sāʿideh says:

shāhid

فَقَدْ عَلِمُوا فِى الغَزْوِ كَيْفَ نُحَارِفُ

[And they certainly know, in warfare, how we vie for superiority in glory.]

Or, according to Skr, it means: how we deal with them; as when one says to a man, What is your حِرْفَة (that is, your occupation) and your lineage? [Or the meaning may be how we requite.]

3.3he requited him for evil that he had done—حارفهُ بِسُوْءٍ

In a tradition: إِنَّ العَبْدِ لَيُحَارَفُ عَنْ عَمَلِهِ الخَيْرَ أَوْ الشَّرَّ, that is, [the servant] shall be requited [for his deed, the good, I mean, or the evil].

he requited for good or for evil—احرف

3.4the measuring of a wound with the probe—مُحَارَفَةٌ

The instrument is the مِحْرَاف, that is, the probe.

Show Lane's original text

He was debarred from the means of subsistence; because he of whom this is said is aloof ( بِحَرْفٍ ) from the means of subsistence. (Mgh.) And حُورِفَ كَسْبُ فُلَانٍ Such a one was made to experience difficulty (S, TA) in his buying and selling, and was straitened (TA) in his means of subsistence; as though his means of subsistence were turned away from him: (S, TA:) or he had his gain, or earnings, turned away from him. (Msb.) It is said in a trad. of Ibn-Mes'ood, مَوْتُ المُؤْمِنِ عَرَقُ الجَبِينِ تَبْقَى عَلَيْهِ البَقِيَّةِمِنَ الذُّنُوبِ فَيُحَارِفُ بِهَا عِنْدَ المَوْتِ , i. e. [The death of the believer is accompanied with sweating of the side of the forehead: some sins remain chargeable against him, and] he is made to experience difficulty by them [in dying], in order that his sins may be diminished. (S.) مُحَارَفَةٌ has also a meaning like مُفَاخَرَةٌ : Sá'ideh says, 1 [And they certainly know, in warfare, how we vie for superiority in glory: or] accord. to Skr, it means how we deal with them; as when one says to a man, What is thy حِرْفَة (i. e. thine occupation) and thy lineage? (TA:) [or the meaning may be how we requite; for] فَقَدْ عَلِمُوا فِى الغَزْوِ كَيْفَ نُحَارِفُ حارفهُ بِسُوْءٍ signifies He requited him for evil (K, TA) that he had done. (TA.) And it is said in a trad., إِنَّ العَبْدِ لَيُحَارَفُ عَنْ عَمَلِهِ الخَيْرَ أَوْ الشَّرَّ , i. e. [Verily the servant] shall be requited [for his deed; the good I mean, or the evil]. (IAar, TA.) And احرف also signifies He requited for good or evil. (IAar, K.) مُحَارَفَةٌ signifies also The measuring a wound with the مِحْرَاف , i. e. the probe. (K, * TA.)

Form 4احرف4 senses · 3 main

maṣdarإِحْرَافٌ

Core sense — his cattle increased and became in good condition; he made a she-camel leangenerated

4.1

See form 1.

4.1.1he came with, or brought, much cattle—جَآءَ بِالحَقِ وَالإِحْرَافِ

his مال [or cattle] increased, and became in a good state or condition.

Abu Zeyd; [see حِلْقٌ].

4.2

He emaciated, or made lean, a she-camel: so says As; others say احرث.

[See حَرْفٌ and see حَرِيثَةٌ.]

4.3

See also form 3, in the next to last sentence.

Show Lane's original text

: see 1. Also, (inf. n. إِحْرَافٌ , Msb,) His مال [or cattle] increased, and became in a good state or condition. (AZ, S, Msb, K.) One says, جَآءَ بِالحَقِ وَالإِحْرَافِ , meaning He came with, or brought, much cattle. (AZ, S. [See حِلْقٌ .]) He emaciated, or rendered lean, a she-camel: so says As: others say احرث . (S.) [See حَرْفٌ : and see حَرِيثَةٌ .] See also 3, last sentence but one.

Form 5تَحَرَّفَ2 senses · 1 main

Core sense — he turned aside, he turned awaygenerated

5.1

See form 7.

5.1.1

And see also form 1.

Show Lane's original text

see 7: and see also 1.

Form 7انحرف1 sense

maṣdarحَرْفٌ تَحْرِيفٌ

Core sense — he turned aside; it became altered from its proper waygenerated

7.1he turned aside—تحرّف

he turned aside—احرورف

he turned aside—حَرَفَ

[It became turned, or altered, from its proper way, or manner — the quasi-passive of form 1 in the first of the senses explained above. And] he turned aside.

عَنْهُ: from it.

[his temperament, or constitution, became disordered]—انحرف مِزَاجَهُ

Also حَرَّفَ [apparently a mistranscription for حُرِّفَ].

[he turned against him, with enmity, or anger]—انحرف عَلَيْهِ

he turned to, or towards, him, or it—انحرف إِلَيْهِ

Show Lane's original text

[It became turned, or altered, from its proper way, or manner; quasi-pass. of 1 in the first of the senses explained above: and] he turned aside; (Az, S, Mgh, Msb, K;) as also تحرّف ; (Az, S, Mgh, K;) and احرورف ; (Az, S, K;) and حَرَفَ , inf. n. حَرْفٌ ; (TA;) عَنْهُ from it. (Az, S, Msb, TA.) [Hence,] one says, انحرف مِزَاجَهُ [His temperament, or constitution, became disordered]; as also حَرَّفَ , [app. a mistranscription for حُرِّفَ ,] inf. n. تَحْرِيفٌ . (TA.) [And انحرف عَلَيْهِ He turned against him, with enmity, or anger.] And انحرف إِلَيْهِ He turned to, or towards, him, or it. (TA.)

Form 8إِحْتَرَفَ1 sense

Core sense — he earned, or gained, his living by a craftgenerated

8.1

See form 1, in two places.

Show Lane's original text

see 1, in two places.

Form 12إِحْرَوْرَفَ1 sense

Core sense — he turned aside, it became bent asidegenerated

12.1

See form 7.

Show Lane's original text

see 7.

Derived nouns 20

Nounحَرْفٌ6 senses · 2 main

Core sense — an edge, or border; a letter of the alphabet; a dialect, or mode of readinggenerated

1a writing-reed not having a nib cut obliquely—قَلَمٌ لَا حَرْفَ لَهُ

The extremity, verge, border, margin, brink, brow, side, or edge of anything — for instance, the side of a river or rivulet, of a ship or boat, and of the notch of an arrow, and the edge of a sword. Plural [of multitude] حُرُوفٌ, and [of paucity] أَحْرُفٌ.

Hence [a point, a ridge, a brow, and a ledge, of a mountain:] the pointed, sharp, or edged, summit of a mountain; a projecting part in the side of a mountain, shaped like a small دُكَّان [that is, bench] or the like; and a part in the summit of a mountain having a thin edge, or ridge, rising above the upper part of the back. The plural of the word used in relation to a mountain is حِرَفٌ, which according to Fr is the only instance of the kind except طِلَلٌ as plural of طَلٌّ.

Hence also a nib of a writing-reed cut obliquely.

So in the S and K in the article جزم.

the two lateral halves of the head—حَرْفَا الرَّأْسِ

such a one is [standing] aloof with respect to his affair—فُلَانٌ عَلَى حَرْفٍ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ

Also بِحَرْفٍ مِنْهُ (see form 3, first sentence).

That is, عَلَى نَاحِيَةٍ مِنْهُ: [in suspense,] waiting and looking to the result; if, looking at it from one side, he sees what he likes, and turning from it if he sees what does not please him.

and among men is he who serves God standing aloof with respect to religion—وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَنْ يَعْبُدُ ٱللّٰهَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ

Qur'ān 22:11. He is in a fluctuating state, like a man on the outskirts of the army, who stands firm if he is sure of victory and spoil, and otherwise flees. Or the meaning is: who serves God in doubt, or suspense, unsteady like one who alights and stays upon the حَرْف [that is, the point, or ridge, or brow,] of a mountain; or in a state of disquiet about his case (Ibn-ʿArafeh), that is, not entering into the religion firmly, or steadily; or who serves God in one set of circumstances only, when in ample circumstances and not when straitened, as though good fortune and plenty were one side and an evil state another side.

a mode, or manner, and a way—حَرْفٌ

Qur’ān 22:11 matched to Lane’s own quotation of it Lane cites “Kur xxii. 11”

Qur’ān 22:11 Lane quotes this verse

وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَعْبُدُ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ حَرْفٍ ۖ فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُۥ خَيْرٌ ٱطْمَأَنَّ بِهِۦ ۖ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ ٱنقَلَبَ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِۦ خَسِرَ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْخُسْرَانُ ٱلْمُبِينُ

There are among men some who serve Allah, as it were, on the verge: if good befalls them, they are, therewith, well content; but if a trial comes to them, they turn on their faces: they lose both this world and the Hereafter: that is loss for all to see!Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur’ān (1934)

1.1[prayer is made null by a significant letter]—تُبْطَلُ الصَّلَاةَ بِحَرْفٍ مُفْهِمٍ

A letter of the alphabet; plural حُرُوفٌ. The letters are so called because they are the extremities of the word [and of the syllable].

This saying of the lawyers means only by an imperative of a verb whose first and last radical letters are weak, such as فِ from وَفَى, and قِ from وَقَى, and the like.

1.2figurative · مجاز — inferred

As a grammatical term, [a particle; that is,] what is used to express a meaning and is neither a noun nor a verb; every other definition of it is bad. Plural حُرُوفٌ.

1.3figurative · مجاز

And a word [in general: often used in this sense in lexicons and the like].

1.4the Qur'ān has been revealed according to seven dialects, of the dialects of the Arabs—نَزَلَ القُرْآنُ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ

A dialect, an idiom, or a mode of expression peculiar to certain of the Arabs; plural [of paucity] أَحْرُفٌ.

This is a saying of Mohammad. Or it means: according to seven modes, or manners, of reading.

such a one reads in the manner of reading of Ibn-Mesʿood—فُلَانٌ يَقْرَأُ بِحَرْفِ ٱبْنِ مَسْعُودٍ

2figurative · مجاز — inferred

Applied to a she-camel: lean, or light of flesh; or lean and lank in the belly; and firm, strong, or hardy — likened to the حَرْف of a mountain, or to the حرف of a sword, for her leanness, or thinness, and her sharpness and effectiveness in pace, or to a letter of the alphabet, meaning the letter ا, for her leanness.

Or excellent, or high-bred, or strong and light and swift, sharp and effective in pace, made lean by journeying — likened to the حرف of a sword.

Or emaciated: so As used to say; but this does not agree with Dhu-r-Rummeh's description of a she-camel by the adjectives جُمَالِيَّةٌ حَرْفٌ سِنَادٌ [see حَرِيثَةٌ].

Or [in the CK “and”] great, big, of great size — likened to the حرف of a mountain.

It is applied only to a she-camel; one may not say جَمَلٌ حَرْفٌ.

Qur’ānic occurrences حَرْف

22:11

Show Lane's original text

The extremity, verge, border, margin, brink, brow, side, or edge, (S, Mgh, * K, TA,) of anything; (S, K;) as, for instance, the side of a river or rivulet, and of a ship or boat, (TA,) and of the notch of an arrow; (Msb;) and the edge of a sword: (L, TA:) pl. [of mult. حُرُوفٌ , and of pauc.] أَحْرُفٌ . (TA.) Hence, (S,) [A point, a ridge, a brow, and a ledge, of a mountain:] the pointed, sharp, or edged, summit of a mountain: (S, Msb, K:) a projecting portion in the side of a mountain, in form like a small دُكَّان [i. e. bench] or the like: and a portion in the summit of a mountain, having a thin edge, or ridge, rising above the upper part of the back: (Sh, TA:) pl. (of the word thus used in relation to a mountain, TA) حِرَفٌ ; (Fr, S, Msb, K;) accord. to Fr, (Msb,) the only instance of the kind except طِلَلٌ as pl. of طَلٌّ . (Msb, K.) [Hence, also,] A nib, of a writing-reed, obliquely cut: so in the phrase قَلَمٌ لَا حَرْفَ لَهُ , in the S and K in art. جزم , a writingreed not having a nib obliquely cut. (TA in that art. [See 2 in the present art.]) And حَرْفَا الرَّأْسِ The two lateral halves of the head. (TA.) [Hence, also, the phrase] فُلَانٌ عَلَى حَرْفٍ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ [and بِحَرْفٍ مِنْهُ (see 3, first sentence,)] Such a one is [standing] aloof with respect to his affair, ( عَلَى نَاحِيَةٍ مِنْهُ , ISd, TA,) [in suspense,] waiting, and looking to the result, if he see, in regarding it from one side, what he likes; (TA;) turning from it if he see what does not please him. (ISd, TA.) The saying, in the Kur xxii. 11, وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَنْ يَعْبُدُ ٱللّٰهَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ means And of men is he who serves God standing aloof with respect to religion, in a fluctuating state, like him who is in the outskirts of the army, who, if sure of victory and spoil, stands firm, and otherwise flees: (Ksh, Bd: *) or the meaning is, who serves God in doubt, or suspense, (Zj, K, Jel,) being unsteady like him who alights and abides upon the حَرْف [i. e. point, or ridge, or brow,] of a mountain: (Jel:) or in a state of disquietude respecting his case; (Ibn- 'Arafeh, K;) i. e. not entering into the religion firmly, or steadily: (K:) or who serves God in one mode of circumstances; i. e. when in ample circumstances, and not when straitened in circumstances; (Az, S, K;) as though good fortune and plenty were one side, and an evil state were another side: (Az, TA:) [hence,] حَرْفٌ sometimes signifies a mode, or manner, and a way. (Msb.) A letter of the alphabet: pl. حُرُوفٌ : (S, Msb, K:) the letters being thus called because they are the extremities of the word [and of the syllable]. (Kull.) The saying of the lawyers, تُبْطَلُ الصَّلَاةَ بِحَرْفٍ مُفْهِمٍ [Prayer is made null by a significant letter] means only by an imperative of a verb of which the first and last radical letters are infirm; such as فِ from وَفَى , and قِ from وَقَى , and the like. (Msb.) As a grammatical term, [A particle; i. e.] what is used to express a meaning, and is not a noun nor a verb: every other definition of it is bad: (K:) pl. حُرُوفٌ . (Msb, &c.) And A word [absolutely: often used in this sense in lexicons &c.]. (Kull.) A dialect, an idiom, or a mode of expression, peculiar to certain of the Arabs: pl. [of pauc.] أَحْرُفٌ : so in the saying (of Mohammad, TA) نَزَلَ القُرْآنُ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ The Kur-án has been revealed according to seven dialects, of the dialects of the Arabs: (A'Obeyd, Az, IAth, K:) or this means, according to seven modes, or manners, (Mgh, Msb,) of reading: whence فُلَانٌ يَقْرَأُ بِحَرْفِ ٱبْنِ مَسْعُودٍ Such a one reads in the manner of reading of Ibn-Mes'ood. (Mgh.) Applied to a she-camel, Lean, or light of flesh; or lean, and lank in the belly; (S, K;) and firm, strong, or hardy; likened to the حَرْف of a mountain; (S;) or to the حرف of a sword, (Z, O, TA,) in respect of her leanness, or thinness, and her sharpness and effectiveness in pace; (Z, TA;) or to a letter of the alphabet, meaning the letter ا , in respect of her leanness: (TA:) or excellent, or high-bred, or strong and light and swift, sharp and effective in pace, rendered lean by journeyings; likened to the حرف of a sword: (L:) or emaciated: (S, K:) so As used to say: (S:) but this is inconsistent with Dhu-r-Rummeh's description of a she-camel by the epithets جُمَالِيَّةٌ حَرْفٌ سِنَادٌ : (TA:) [see حَرِيثَةٌ :] or [in the CK “ and ”] great; big; of great size; (K, TA;) likened to the حرف of a mountain: (TA:) it is applied only to a she-camel: one may not say جَمَلٌ حَرْفٌ . (IAar, TA.)

Nounحُرْفٌ2 senses

Core sense — ill-fatedness, lack of good fortune; a grain resembling mustardgenerated

1the ill-fatedness of any one of them distresses me more than his poverty—لِحِرْفَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ أَشَدُّ عَلَىَّ مِنْ عَيْلَتِهِ

This word, and also حِرْفَةٌ, حُرْفَةٌ and حِرَافٌ: ill-fatedness; privation of prosperity, or the being denied prosperity — the same as حِرْمَانٌ [as maṣdar of حُرِمَ]; lack of good fortune, so that one has no increase of his cattle or other property; debarment from the means of subsistence.

That is: supplying the wants of the poor man is easier for me than making the bad thrive. Or the meaning is: the want of the means of gaining subsistence by any one of them, and grief on that account, distresses me more than his poverty. So in the Nh.

Hence this saying of ʿOmar; according to one reading, لَحُرْفَةُ.

2a certain grain, resembling mustard—الحُرْفُ

It resembles الخَرْدَل [or mustard].

Called by the common people, or in the dialect of El-ʿIrāq, حَبُّ الرَّشَادِ or الرَّشَادُ; the ism waḥda, applied to a single grain of it, is formed with ة. [See the article رشد.]

Hence حِرِّيفٌ.

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and حِرْفَةٌ (S, K) and حُرْفَةٌ (Mgh, K) and حِرَافٌ (TA) Ill-fatedness; privation of prosperity; or the being denied prosperity; syn. حِرْمَانٌ [as inf. n. of حُرِمَ ]: (K, TA:) lack of good fortune, so that one has no increase of his cattle or other property: (S:) debarment from the means of subsistence. (Mgh.) Hence the saying of 'Omar, لِحِرْفَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ أَشَدُّ عَلَىَّ مِنْ عَيْلَتِهِ , (S, K,) or, accord. to one reading, لَحُرْفَةُ , (TA,) [Verily the ill-fatedness of any one of them is more distressing to me than his poverty:] i. e., the supplying the wants of the poor man is easier to me than the making the bad to thrive: or the meaning is, the want of the means of gaining subsistence by any one of them, and grief on that account, is more distressing to me than his poverty: so in the Nh. (TA.) الحُرْفُ A certain grain, resembling الخَرْدَل [or mustard]; (Az, Msb, TA;) called by the vulgar, (AHn, TA,) or in the dial. of El- 'Irák, (TA in art. رشد ,) حَبُّ الرَّشَادِ , (AHn, S, K,) or الرَّشَادُ : (Msb:) n. un. with ة , (TA,) applied to a single grain thereof. (Msb.) [See art. رشد .] Hence حِرِّيفٌ [q. v.]. (S, Msb.)

Nounحُرْفَةٌ1 sense

Core sense — ill-fatedness, lack of good fortunegenerated

See حُرْفٌ, in two places.

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: see حُرْفٌ , in two places.

Nounحِرْفَةٌ2 senses

Core sense — a craft, or handicraft, by which one gains a livinggenerated

A craft, or handicraft, by which one gains a living; a mode, or manner, of gain; any habitual work or occupation of a man — so called because he turns to it. A substantive from اِحْتَرَفَ; plural حِرَفٌ.