Core sense — a lip of a human being; a word; people's speaking, or praisegenerated
1the two covers of the mouth of a human being—شَفَتَا الإِنْسَانِ
Also pronounced شِفَةٌ. It is a word whose third, that is, final, radical letter has been dropped.
Some say that this letter is ه, and so say all the Basrees, the word being originally شفهة, that is, شَفَهَةٌ or شَفْهَةٌ, like كَلْبَهٌ and سَجْدَةٌ, because it has the first of the diminutives given below, and the first of the plurals given below, with ه; and it is sometimes pronounced شفهة.
Others assert that the missing letter is و, the word being originally شَفْوَةٌ, like شَهْوَةٌ, because it has the last of the plurals given below and the second of the two diminutives. Both statements are given on the authority of Kh.
The word is properly used only of a human being; but it is sometimes used figuratively of the horse, and in the same way of the دَلْو [or leathern bucket], as by A'Obeyd, though ISd doubted whether he had heard this from the Arabs.
Az: the plural is شِفَاهٌ, شَفَهَاتٌ, and شَفَوَاتٌ; Lth says the second agrees better with analogy than the third, though the third is more common, being likened to سَنَوَاتٌ [plural of سَنَةٌ].
he is thick in the lip—إِنَّهُ لَغَلِيظُ الشِفَاهِ
Ks mentions this phrase, as though the term شَفَةٌ applied to every portion of the شَفَة.
The diminutive is شُفَيْهَةُ and شُفَيَّةٌ.
1.1figurative · مجاز — inferredthey are those who have the right of drinking with their lips and of watering their beasts—هُمْ أَهْلُ الشَّفَةِ
بِشِفَاهِهِمْ: with their lips.
1.2figurative · مجاز — inferreda word—بِنْتُ شَفَةٍ
a word—ذَاتُ شَفَةٍ
I did not speak a word to him—مَا كَلَّمْتُهُ بِبِنْتِ شَفَةٍ
he did not speak a word to me—مَا كَلَّمَنِىبِنْتَ شَفَةٍ
I did not hear a word from him—مَا سَمِعْتُ مِنْهُ بِنْتَ شَفَةٍ
I did not speak a word to such a one—مَا كَلَّمْتُ فُلَانًا ذَاتَ شَفَةٍ
AZ, under the word ذُو.
1.3figurative · مجازsuch a one is a person who asks, or begs, little of people—فُلَانٌ خَفِيفُ الشَّفَةِ
It also means importunate, one who asks, or begs, much of people; so the term has two contrary meanings.
1.4figurative · مجازhe has praise, or commendation, among the people—لَهُ فِى النَّاسِ شَفَةٌ
he has a good report, or reputation, among us—لَهُ فِينَا شَفَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ
the people's speaking of you is good—إِنَّ شَفَةَ النَّاسِ عَلَيْكَ لَحَسَنَةٌ
how good is the people's speaking of you!—مَا أَحْسَنَ شَفَةَ النَّاسِ عَلَيْكَ
1.5
See also شَفًا in art. شفو and شفى.
Show Lane's original text
, (T, S, Msb, K, &c.,) also pronounced شِفَةٌ , (K,) is a word of which the third, i. e. the final, radical letter is elided; (T, Msb;) and accord. to some, (Msb,) this letter is ه , (T, Msb, K, TA,) so accord. to all of the Basrees, (TA,) the word being originally شفهة , (T, S, Msb, TA,) i. e. شَفَهَةٌ , (so in copies of the S,) or شَفْهَةٌ , like كَلْبَهٌ and سَجْدَةٌ , (Msb,) because it has the former of the dims. mentioned below, and the first of the pls. mentioned below, with ه , (S, Msb, *) and it is sometimes pronounced شفهة ; (T, TA;) or, as some assert, the deficient letter is و , (S, Msb,) the word being originally شَفْوَةٌ , like شَهْوَةٌ , (Msb,) because it has the last of the pls. mentioned below, (S, [but omitted in one of my copies,] and Msb, *) and the latter of the two dims. mentioned below; (Msb;) both of which assertions are stated on the authority of Kh; (IF, Msb;) [The lip of a human being;] شَفَتَا الإِنْسَانِ meaning the two covers of the mouth of the human being: (K:) it is [properly] only of a human being: (Msb:) but it is sometimes, metaphorically, of the horse: and in like manner, of the دَلْو [or leathern bucket] as used by A'Obeyd; but ISd has expressed a doubt whether he had heard this from the Arabs: (TA:) the pl. is شِفَاهٌ (S, Msb, K, &c.) and شَفَهَاتٌ (Lth, Msb, TA) and شَفَوَاتٌ , (Lth, S, Msb, K,) the second of which is said by Lth to be more agreeable with analogy than the third, though the third is more common, as being likened to سَنَوَاتٌ [pl. of سَنَةٌ ]: (Az, (Msb, TA:) and Ks mentions the phrase, إِنَّهُ لَغَلِيظُ الشِفَاهِ [as meaning Verily he is thick in the lip], as though the term شَفَةٌ applied to every portion of the شَفَة : (TA:) the dim. is شُفَيْهَةُ (S, Msb) and شُفَيَّةٌ . (Msb.) [Hence,] هُمْ أَهْلُ الشَّفَةِ They are those who have the right of drinking with their lips ( بِشِفَاهِهِمْ ) and of watering their beasts. (Mgh.) And بِنْتُ شَفَةٍ A word; (S, Msb, K, TA;) as also ذَاتُ شَفَةٍ . (TA.) One says, مَا كَلَّمْتُهُ بِبِنْتِ شَفَةٍ I spoke not to him a word: (S:) or مَا كَلَّمَنِىبِنْتَ شَفَةٍ He spoke not to me a word: (TA:) and مَا سَمِعْتُ مِنْهُ بِنْتَ شَفَةٍ I heard not from him a word: (Msb:) and مَا كَلَّمْتُ فُلَانًا ذَاتَ شَفَةٍ I spoke not to such a one a word. (AZ, T voce ذُو .) And فُلَانٌ خَفِيفُ الشَّفَةِ Such a one is a person who asks, or begs, little of people: (ISk, S, K, * TA:) and also, importunate, (K, TA,) one who asks, or begs, much of people: (TA:) thus having two contr. meanings. (K.) And لَهُ فِى النَّاسِ شَفَةٌ He has praise, or commendation, among the people: (S:) and لَهُ فِينَا شَفَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ He has a good report, or reputation, among us. (A, K, TA.) And إِنَّ شَفَةَ النَّاسِ عَلَيْكَ لَحَسَنَةٌ Verily the people's speaking of thee is good. (Lh, TA.) And مَا أَحْسَنَ شَفَةَ النَّاسِ عَلَيْكَ How good is the people's speaking of thee! (K, TA.) See also شَفًا , in art. شفو and شفى .