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سفل

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Form 1سَفَلَ2 senses · 1 main
muḍāriʿـُيَفْعُلُ·ـَيَفْعَلُmaṣdarسُفُولٌ سَفَالَةٌ سَفْلٌ

Core sense — he, or it, was, or became, low; he was base, vile, or meangenerated

1.1figurative · مجاز — inferred[A daughter of a daughter of a daughter, and if she be lower in descent]—بِنْتُ بِنْتِ بِنْتٍ وَإِنْ سَفَلَتْ

also سَفُلَ, and سَفِلَ; maṣdar سُفُولٌ and سَفَالٌ (in the CK, wrongly, سِفال), and of the second سَفَالَةٌ and تسفّل.

He, or it, was, or became, low. The first is the opposite of عَلَا, and the third of عَلِىَ; both are said of a man. سُفُولٌ and سَفَالٌ are the opposite of عُلُوٌّ and عَلآءٌ; or he became lower than another. The first also means it descended, subsided, or sank downwards.

سَفُلَتْ, that is, with damm to the ف in this case, is a mistake.

[His station with the commander, governor, or prince, was, or became, low, or lower]—سَفَلَتْ مَنْزِلَتُهُ عِنْدَ الأَمِيرِ
[Their case is in a low state]—أَمْرُهُمْ فِىسَفَالٍ
[it subsided in the thing;] it descended from the upper part of the thing to the lowest part—سَفَلَ فِىالشّىْءِ

The K's context implies that it is سَفُلَ, but it is like نَصَرَ.

1.1.1figurative · مجازhe was, or became, low, base, vile, ignoble, or mean—سَفُلَ

maṣdar سَفَالَةٌ, سَفَالِيَةٌ and سُفْلٌ. Also سَفَلَ, with fet-h, or سَفِلَ.

he was low, base, or mean in his lot, his disposition, his deed, and his lineage—فِى خُلُقِهِ

One says سَفَلَ, like قَتَلَ, or سَفُلَ, like كَرُمَ; and عَمَلِهِ and نَسَبِهِ, muḍāriʿ in either case سَفُلَ; maṣdar سَفْلٌ, سُفْلٌ and سِفَالٌ, the last like كِتَابٌ [and apparently سَفِلَ also, according to the MA, as shown above]; also تسفّل and استفل.

The Msb seems to indicate the meaning: inferior to others.

تسفّل is the opposite of جَادَ.

Show Lane's original text
, aor. سَفُلَ ; (M, MA, Mgh, O, * Msb, K;) and سَفُلَ , aor. سَفُلَ ; (M, Msb, K;) and سَفِلَ , (O, K,) aor. سَفَلَ ; (K;) inf. n. (of the first, Mgh, Msb, TA, and of the last, TA) سُفُولٌ (M, MA, Mgh, Msb, K) and سَفَالٌ (M, MA, K, TA, in the CK [erroneously] سِفال ,) and of the second سَفَالَةٌ (TA;) and تسفّل ; (M, K;) He, or it, was, or became, low; (M, * Mgh, O, K; *) the first contr. of عَلَا (Mgh, O;) and the third, of عَلِىَ ; and both are said of a man; (O;) سُفُولٌ and سَفَالٌ being the contr. of عُلُوٌّ and عَلآءٌ : (S, K:) or became lower than another: (Msb:) [and] the first signifies it descended, subsided, or sank downwards. (MA.) Hence the phrase بِنْتُ بِنْتِ بِنْتٍ وَإِنْ سَفَلَتْ [A daughter of a daughter of a daughter, and if she be lower in descent]: سَفُلَتْ i. e. with damm to the ف , in this case, is a mistake. (Mgh.) And سَفَلَتْ مَنْزِلَتُهُ عِنْدَ الأَمِيرِ [His station with, or in the estimation of, the commander, governor, or prince, was, or became, low, or lower]. (TA.) And أَمْرُهُمْ فِىسَفَالٍ [Their case is in a low state]. (TA.) And سَفَلَ فِىالشّىْءِ , (K, * TA, [in the former of which the context implies that it is سَفُلَ , but it is]) like نَصَرَ , [aor. سَفُلَ ,] (TA,) inf. n. سُفُولٌ , [It subsided in the thing;] it descended from the upper, or uppermost, part of the thing, to the lower, or lowest, part thereof. (K.) And سَفُلَ , [aor. سَفُلَ ,] inf. n. سَفَالَةٌ (Fr, S, MA, Mgh, O, K *) and سَفَالِيَةٌ (MA) and سُفْلٌ , (Fr, O,) He was, or became, low, base, vile, ignoble, mean, or sordid; (Fr, S, MA, Mgh, O, K; *) as also سَفَلَ , with fet-h, (Fr, O,) or سَفِلَ . (MA.) You say, سَفَلَ , like قَتَلَ , (Msb,) or سَفُلَ , like كَرُمَ , (K,) فِى خُلُقِهِ , and عَمَلِهِ , (Msb, K,) and نَسَبِهِ , (TA,) [aor. in either case سَفُلَ ,] inf. n. سَفْلٌ (Msb, K) and سُفْلٌ (K) and سِفَالٌ , (Msb, * K, [in the former without any indication of the syll. signs,]) the last like كِتَابٌ ; (K;) [and app. سَفِلَ also accord. to the MA, as shown above;] and تسفّل , and استفل ; (TA;) He was low, base, vile, ignoble, or mean, in his lot, [or, as seems to be indicated in the Msb, inferior to others,] in respect of his disposition, and his deed, and his lineage: (TA:) تسفّل is the contr. of جَادَ . (Msb.)
Form 2تَسْفِيلٌ1 sense

Core sense — lowering, or depressinggenerated

2.1

Lowering, or depressing; synonymous with تَصْوِيبٌ.

Show Lane's original text
The act of lowering, or depressing; syn. تَصْوِيبٌ . Sudot;, O.)
Form 3هُويُسَافِلُ فُلَانًا1 sense

Core sense — he vies with someone in low, base, mean actionsgenerated

3.1figurative · مجاز — inferred

He vies with, or imitates, such a one in his low, base, vile, ignoble, or mean actions.

Show Lane's original text
He vies with, or imitates, such a one in his low, base, vile, ignoble, mean, or sordid, actions. (TA.)
Form 5تَسَفُّلٌ3 senses · 1 main

Core sense — being lowered, or depressedgenerated

5.1

Quasi-passive of form 2: being lowered, or depressed; synonymous with تَصَوُّبٌ, the opposite of تَعَلّ.

5.1.1

See also form 1, first sentence.

5.1.2

And the same, last sentence, in two places.

Show Lane's original text
[quasi-pass. of 2,] The being lowered, or depressed; syn. تَصَوُّبٌ (S, O;) contr. of تَعَلّ . (TA.) See also 1, first sentence: and the same, last sentence, in two places.
Form 8إِسْتَفَلَ1 sense

Core sense — he, or it, was, or became, lowgenerated

8.1

See form 1, last sentence.

Show Lane's original text
see 1, last sentence.

Derived nouns 12

Nounسُفْلٌ1 sense

Core sense — the lowest, or lower, part of a thinggenerated

1the lowest, or lower, part [of a thing]—سِفْلٌ

The Msb strangely adds that IKt disallowed the pronunciation with damm.

Also سِفْلَةٌ and سُفَالَهٌ. The opposite of عُلْوٌ, عِلْوٌ, عِلْوَةٌ and عُلَاوَةٌ [and so سَافلَةٌ, the opposite of عَاليَةٌ].

the lowest, or lower, part of anything—سُفَالَهُ كُلّ شَىْءٍ

That is, أَسْفَلُهُ and عُلَاوَتُهُ; the opposite is أَعْلَاهُ.

Show Lane's original text
and سِفْلٌ (S, M, Mgh, O, Msb, K) [but it is strangely added in the Msb that IKt disallowed the pronunciation with damm] and سِفْلَةٌ (M, K) and سُفَالَهٌ (S, O, K) The lowest, or lower, part [of a thing]; contr. of عُلْوٌ (S, M, Mgh, O, Msb, K) and عِلْوٌ (S, Mgh, O, Msb, K) and عِلْوَةٌ (K) and عُلَاوَةٌ ; (S, O, K;) [and so سَافلَةٌ , contr. of عَاليَةٌ :] سُفَالَهُ كُلّ شَىْءٍ signifies, (K,) or is said to signify, (M,) the lowest, or lower, part of anything; i. e. أَسْفَلُهُ (M, K;) and عُلَاوَتُهُ [The contr., i. e.] أَعْلَاهُ . (M.)
Nounسِفْلٌ1 sense

Core sense — the lowest, or lower, part of a thinggenerated

1

See the preceding entry.

Show Lane's original text
: see the next preceding paragraph.
Nounسَفِلٌ1 sense

Core sense — a low, base, ignoble man; the lowest of people, the rabblegenerated

1figurative · مجاز — inferredlow [in condition], deficient in lot, or fortune—سَفيلٌ

From سَفِلَ; and سَفِيلٌ, from سَفُلَ: a low, base, vile, ignoble, or mean man.

That is, low, سَافِلٌ.

low, base, ignoble, or mean persons; the lowest of people, their refuse or rabble—سَفِلَةٌ

Said by some to be from this word in the sense of the legs of a camel or of a beast, or quadruped; and سِفْلَةٌ is a contraction of سَفِلَةٌ, or it may be the plural of سَفِيلٌ, as عِلْيَةٌ is of عَلِىٌّ.

the lowest, or basest, of the low, or base—سِفِلَةٌ

This form, with two kesrehs, is a dialectal variant of سَفِلَةٌ and سِفْلَةٌ, mentioned by Sgh and IB on the authority of Yoo and IKh.

The plural of سِفْلَةٌ is سِفَلٌ. One should not say هُوَ سَفِلَةٌ, because this is used only as a plural. The vulgar say رَجُلٌ سِفْلَةٌ مِنْ قَوْمٍ سِفَلٍ, but this has been disallowed.

A man is related to have said to his wife, who had called him سِفْلَةٌ: إِنْ كُنْتُ سِفْلَةً فَأَنْتِ طَالِقٌ, meaning If I am low, base, in my intellect and my religion [you are divorced]; from which it seems that سِفْلَةٌ may be applied to a single person, but this requires consideration.

[The oaths] of the ignorant—أَيْمَانُ السَّفِلَةِ

Or, according to Aboo-Haneefeh, of the heretics, or schismatics; such [oaths] are said to be وَوَجْهِ ٱللّٰهِ and وَأمَانَةِ ٱللّٰه.

Show Lane's original text
from سَفِلَ , and سَفِيلٌ from سَفُلَ , A low, base, vile, ignoble, mean, or sordid, man: (MA:) or سَفيلٌ signifies low ( سَافِلٌ ) [in condition], deficient in lot, or fortune: (TA:) and سَفِلَةٌ , (S, M, MA, Mgh, Msb, K,) said by some to be from this word as signifying the “ legs ” (Mgh, Msb) of a camel (Mgh) or of a beast, or quadruped, (Msb,) and سِفْلَةٌ , (S, M, MA, Mgh Msb, K,) a contraction of سَفِلَةٌ , (S, Mgh, Msb, or it may be pl. of سَفِيلٌ , like as عِلْيَةٌ is of عَلِىٌّ , (Mgh,) low, base, vile, ignoble, mean, or sordid, persons; (S, * MA, Mgh, Msb;) or the lowest, or lower, basest, or baser, vilest, or viler, &c., of mankind, or of people; the refuse, or rabble, thereof: (S, * M, K:) and سِفِلَةٌ , with two kesrehs, is a dial. var. of سَفِلَةٌ and سِفْلَةٌ , mentioned by Sgh and IB on the authority of Yoo and IKh, and is said to mean the lowest, basest, &c., of the low, base, &c.: the pl. of سِفْلَةٌ is سِفَلٌ ; (TA;) one should not say, هُوَ سَفِلَةٌ because this is [used only as] a pl.: (S:) the vulgar say رَجُلٌ سِفْلَةٌ مِنْ قَوْمٍ سِفَلٍ ; (S, Mgh; *) but this has been disallowed: (Mgh:) a man is related to have said to his wife, (Mgh, TA,) who had called him سِفْلَةٌ , (TA,) إِنْ كُنْتُ سِفْلَةً فَأَنْتِ طَالِقٌ , (Mgh, TA,) meaning If I be low, base, &c., in my intellect and my religion [thou art divorced]; (Mgh;) whence it seems that سِفْلَةٌ may be applied to a single person; but this requires consideration. (TA.) أَيْمَانُ السَّفِلَةِ means [The oaths] of the ignorant: or accord. to Aboo- Haneefeh, of the heretics, or schismatics: such [oaths] are said to be وَوَجْهِ ٱللّٰهِ and وَأمَانَةِ ٱللّٰه . (Mgh.)
Nounسِفْلَةٌ2 senses · 1 main

Core sense — the lowest, or basest, of people; the rabblegenerated

1

See سُفْلٌ.

1.1

And see also سَفِلٌ, in three places.

Show Lane's original text
see سُفْلٌ : and see also سَفِلٌ , in three places.
Nounسَفِلَةٌ3 senses · 1 main

Core sense — the legs of a camel or of a beastgenerated

1

The legs of a camel or of a beast, or quadruped: because they are lowest.

1.1

See also سَافِلَةٌ.

1.2

And see سَفِلٌ, in three places.

Show Lane's original text
The legs (S, M, Mgh, Msb, K) of a camel (S, M, Mgh, K) or of a beast, or quadruped: (Msb:) because they are lowest. (M.) See also سَافِلَةٌ : and see سَفِلٌ , in three places.
Nounسِفِلَةٌ1 sense

Core sense — the lowest, or basest, of peoplegenerated

1

See سَفِلٌ.

Show Lane's original text
see سَفِلٌ .
Nounسُفْلِىُّ2 senses · 1 main

Core sense — relating to the lowest part or place; low in conditiongenerated

1persons alighting, or abiding, in the lowest, or lower, parts of a country—سُفْليُّونَ

Of, or relating to, the lowest, or lower, part or place; a relative noun from سُفْلٌ.

Opposed to عَليُّونَ; mentioned under the article علو.

1.1figurative · مجاز — inferredhe who has mercy on the low in condition will have mercy shown him by the high in condition—مَنْ يَرْحَمِ السُّفْلِىَّ يَرْحَمْهُ العَلِىُّ

It is also opposed to عَلِىٌّ [in relation to condition]; hence the saying that follows.

persons low in condition—سُفْلِيُّونَ

Opposed to عَلِيُّونَ, meaning wealthy persons; mentioned under the article علو.

Show Lane's original text
[Of, or relating to, the lowest, or lower, part or place;] a rel. n. from سُفْلٌ . (TA.) [Hence, the pl.] سُفْليُّونَ means Persons alighting, or abiding, in the lowest, or lower, parts of a country: opposed to عَليُّونَ (TA in art. علو .) It is also opposed to عَلِىٌّ [in relation to condition]: whence the saying, مَنْ يَرْحَمِ السُّفْلِىَّ يَرْحَمْهُ العَلِىُّ He who has mercy on the low in condition, on him will the high in condition have mercy]. (TA.) سُفْلِيُّونَ , meaning Persons low in condition, is opposed to عَلِيُّونَ , meaning “ opulent persons. ” (TA in art. علو .)
Nounسَفِيلٌ1 sense

Core sense — low, base, vile, or meangenerated

1

See سَفِلٌ, in three places.

Show Lane's original text
: see سَفِلٌ , in three places.
Nounسُفَالَةٌ2 senses · 1 main

Core sense — the lowest, or lower, part; the leeward sidegenerated

1

See سُفْلٌ, in two places.

1.1he sat on the leeward side, the side towards which the wind blew—قَعَدَ سُفَالَةَ الرِّيحِ

Also فِى سُفَالَةِ الرِّيحِ, or بِسُفَالَةِالرِّيح.

Said particularly with respect to the object or objects of the chase, so that his smell might not be perceived by them. Mentioned also under the article علو.

Opposed to عُلَاوَتَهَا and فِى عُلَاوَتِهَا, or بِعُلَاوَتِهَا.

Show Lane's original text
see سُفْلٌ , in two places. One says, قَعَدَ سُفَالَةَ الرِّيحِ , and فِى سُفَالَةِ الرِّيحِ , (M, K, * TA,) or بِسُفَالَةِالرِّيح , (S,) [He sat in, or on, the leeward side; like as one says in French, sous le vent;] in, or on, the side, or quarter, towards which the wind blew; (S, M, K, * TA;) and particularly with respect to the object or objects of the chase [in order that his smell might not be perceived thereby]: (TA in the present art. and in art. علو :) opposed to عُلَاوَتَهَا , and فِى عُلَاوَتِهَا , (M, K, * TA,) or بِعُلَاوَتِهَا . (S.)
Nounسَافِلٌ1 sense

Core sense — lowgenerated

1

Low; the opposite of عَالٍ.

See also سَفِلٌ, and see an example under أَسْفَلُ.

Qur’ānic occurrences سَافِل 1 shown of 3
95:5
ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَـٰهُ أَسْفَلَ سَـٰفِلِينَ

Then do We abase him (to be) the lowest of the low,-

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
Low; contr. of عَالٍ . (S, Msb, * TA.) See also سَفِلٌ : and see an ex. voce أَسْفَلُ
Nounسَافِلَةٌ3 senses · 1 main

Core sense — the lower part; the posteriors, or the anusgenerated

1

See سُفْلٌ.

1.1the half of the spear that is next to its pointed iron foot—سَافِلَةُ الرُّمْحِ

That is, next to the زُجّ [or pointed iron shoe, or foot]. Opposed to عَالِيَتُهُ.

1.2the bottom, posteriors, or buttocks; and the anus—السَّافِلَةُ

Synonymous with المَقْعَدَةُ and الدُّبُرُ; also السَّفِلَةُ, synonymous with الدُّبُرُ. Mentioned under the article خجر.

Show Lane's original text
: see سُفْلٌ . [Hence,] سَافِلَةُ الرُّمْحِ half that is next to the زُجّ [or pointed iron shoe, or foot,] of the spear: (M, K:) [opposed to عَالِيَتُهُ .] And السَّافِلَةُ The bottom, podex, posteriors, or buttocks; and the anus; syn. المَقْعَدَةُ , (S,) and الدُّبُرُ ; (TA;) as also السَّفِلَةُ ; syn. الدُّبُرُ . (L in art. خجر .)
Nounأَسْفَلُ6 senses · 1 main

Core sense — lower, and lowest; the lowest parts of valleysgenerated

1[He, or it, became lower than another]—صَارَأَسْفَلَ مِنْ غَيْرِهِ

Lower, and lowest; the opposite of أَعْلَى. Feminine سُفْلَى, plural أَسَافِلُ.

the caravan being in a place lower than you—وٱلرَّكْبُ أَسْفَلَ مِنْكُمْ

In the Kur 8:43. Here اسفل is an adverbial noun; or, as some read, أَسْفَلُ مِنْكُمْ, that is, being lower than you.

1.1figurative · مجاز — inferred[Then we rendered him the lowest of low]—ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَاهُ أَسْفَلَ سَافِلِينَ

In the Kur 95:5. Or: we reduced him to extreme old age; or to a state of perishing, or passing away; or to a state of error — this said of him who has disbelieved, for every infant is born with the natural constitution in which it is created in its mother's womb, and he who disbelieves and errs is reduced to this state. Or the meaning is: we have made him one of the people of the fire [of Hell]; or [we have made him go down] to the fire [of Hell].

1.2[The lower of Mudar]—سُفْلَي مُضَرَ

Said to denote those of Mudar apart from Kureysh and Keys; opposed to عُلْيَامُضَرَ. Mentioned under the article علو.

1.3

See also سُفْلٌ.

1.4the lower, or lowest, parts of valleys [and the like]—أَسَافِلُ

This is the plural.

[The dogs] of the lower, or lowest, parts of the valleys—كِلَابُ الأَسَافِلِ

The phrase occurs in a verse of Aboo-Dhu-eyb.

1.5figurative · مجاز — inferred

And the young ones of camels.

Qur’ānic occurrences أَسْفَل 5 shown of 6
4:145
إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ فِى ٱلدَّرْكِ ٱلْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمْ نَصِيرًا

The Hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire: no helper wilt thou find for them;-

33:10
إِذْ جَآءُوكُم مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ وَمِنْ أَسْفَلَ مِنكُمْ وَإِذْ زَاغَتِ ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرُ وَبَلَغَتِ ٱلْقُلُوبُ ٱلْحَنَاجِرَ وَتَظُنُّونَ بِٱللَّهِ ٱلظُّنُونَا۠

Behold! they came on you from above you and from below you, and behold, the eyes became dim and the hearts gaped up to the throats, and ye imagined various (vain) thoughts about Allah!

37:98
فَأَرَادُوا۟ بِهِۦ كَيْدًا فَجَعَلْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْأَسْفَلِينَ

(This failing), they then sought a stratagem against him, but We made them the ones most humiliated!

41:29
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ أَرِنَا ٱلَّذَيْنِ أَضَلَّانَا مِنَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ نَجْعَلْهُمَا تَحْتَ أَقْدَامِنَا لِيَكُونَا مِنَ ٱلْأَسْفَلِينَ

And the Unbelievers will say: "Our Lord! Show us those, among Jinns and men, who misled us: We shall crush them beneath our feet, so that they become the vilest (before all)."

95:5
ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَـٰهُ أَسْفَلَ سَـٰفِلِينَ

Then do We abase him (to be) the lowest of the low,-

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
Lower, and lowest; contr. of أَعْلَى (M, Msb, K:) fem. سُفْلَى : (TA:) and pl. أَسَافِلُ . (M, TA.) One says, صَارَأَسْفَلَ مِنْ غَيْرِهِ [He, or it, became lower than another]. (Msb.) And it is said in the Kur [viii. 43], وٱلرَّكْبُ أَسْفَلَ مِنْكُمْ The caravan being in a place lower than ye; اسفل being here an adv. n.: or, as some read, أَسْفَلُ مِنْكُمْ , i. e. being lower than ye. (M.) ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَاهُ أَسْفَلَ سَافِلِينَ , in the Kur [xcv. 5], means [Then we rendered him the lowest of low: or] we reduced him to extreme old age, or decrepitude: or to a state of perishing, or passing away: or to a state of error; relating to him who has disbelieved; (M, K;) for every infant is born of the natural constitution with which he is created in his mother's womb, and he who disbelieves and errs is reduced to this state: (M:) or the meaning is, we have made him to be of the people of the fire [of Hell]: or [we have made him to go down] to the fire [of Hell]. (Bd.) سُفْلَي مُضَرَ [The lower of Mudar] is said to denote those of Mudar with the exception of Kureysh and Keys: opposed to عُلْيَامُضَرَ . (TA in art. علو .) See also سُفْلٌ . The pl. أَسَافِلُ means The lower, or lowest, parts of valleys [&c.]. (TA.) The phrase كِلَابُ الأَسَافِلِ occurs in a verse of Aboo-Dhu-eyb as meaning [The dogs] of the lower, or lowest, parts of the valleys. (M.) And The young ones of camels. (As, S, * TA.)