فصح

Form 1 · Form 2 · Form 4 · Form 5 · Form 6 · Form 10 · 14 entries · Qur'ānic frequency 1

Form 1فَصُحَ3 senses · 2 main

muḍāriʿـُيَفْعُلُmaṣdarفَصَاحَةٌ

Core sense — said of milk: it became free from froth; he became good in his speechgenerated

1.1said of milk: it became free from froth, and clear of its biestings—افصح

Mz in the 9th نوع, and so in some copies of the K.

Muḍāriʿ فَصُحَ; maṣdar فَصَاحَةٌ or فَصْحٌ (Er-Rāghib, as cited in the Mz), or فصّح, or that form as well.

Er-Rāghib: being free from the froth is the primary meaning.

Or it is افصح that means being clear of the biestings.

Er-Rāghib: فَصْحٌ means a thing's becoming clear of what was mixed with it.

1.1.1figurative · مجازhe (a man) was, or became, good in his language, or dialect—فَصُحَ

Muḍāriʿ فَصُحَ; maṣdar فَصَاحَةٌ and فَصْحٌ.

Er-Rāghib: this is a figurative use of the same verb as said of milk. See also Form 4, and فَصَاحَهٌ below.

Or, said of a foreigner: he became good and correct in his language, or dialect. Or, said of a man: he became clear, or distinct, in speech. And, said of a foreigner: he spoke Arabic intelligibly — though this last meaning seems to belong more properly to أَفْصَحَ.

Or he was an Arab by birth, and so in speech, and increased in فَصَاحَة, like تفصّح; and he was, or became, eloquent, the verb being used as a synonym of بَلُغَ, from which it is properly distinct.

1.2figurative · مجاز — inferreddaybreak became apparent to you, and its light overcame you—قَدْ فَصَحَكَ الصُّبْحُ

This is what the phrase is said to mean; and some say فَضَحَكَ.

daybreak came upon him suddenly—فَصَحَهُ الصُّبْحُ

So according to Lh.

Show Lane's original text

, (S, A, Mz in the 9th نوع , and so in some copies of the K as stated in the TA,) [aor. فَصُحَ ,] inf. n. فَصَاحَةٌ , (KL,) or فَصْحٌ ; (Mz ubi suprà, on the authority of Er-Rághib;) or فصّح ; (so in other copies of the K;) or the latter also; (A;) and افصح ; (A, K, Mz;) said of milk, It became divested of the froth, (S, A, K, Mz,) which is the primary signification accord. to Er-Rághib; (Mz;) and clear of its biestings: (A:) or افصح has this latter signification. (S, L, K.) And فَصْحٌ , accord. to Er-Rághib, signifies [also] A thing's becoming clear of what was mixed with it. (Mz ubi suprà.) And [hence] فَصُحَ , (S, Msb, K, and Mz ubi suprà,) [aor. فَصُحَ ,] inf. n. فَصَاحَةٌ (S, K) and فَصْحٌ , (K,) He (a man) was, or became, good in his language, or dialect; a metaphorical signification from the same verb as said of milk; so accord. to Er-Rághib: (Mz: see also 4: [and see فَصَاحَهٌ below:]) or he (a foreigner) was, or became, good and correct in his language, or dialect: (S, Msb:) or he [a man] was, or became, clear, perspicuous, or distinct, in speech, or language: and he (a foreigner) spoke Arabic intelligibly: but this signification seems to belong more properly to أَفْصَحَ , q. v.:] or he [a man] was an Arab [by birth, and therefore in speech], and he increased in فَصَاحَة [q. v.]; like تفصّح : (K:) and he was, or became, eloquent; (L;) thus used as syn. with بَلُغَ [from which it is properly distinct]. (MF.) قَدْ فَصَحَكَ الصُّبْحُ [is said to mean] Daybreak has become apparent to thee, and its light has overcome thee: (K, * TA:) and some say, فَضَحَكَ : [or,] accord. to Lh, فَصَحَهُ الصُّبْحُ means daybreak came upon him suddenly. (TA.)

Form 2فصّح2 senses · 1 main

Core sense — he made his tongue speak Arabicgenerated

2.1

See Form 1, first sense.

2.1.1figurative · مجاز

Also, said of a foreigner: he made his tongue speak Arabic.

Show Lane's original text

: see 1, first sentence. Also, He (a foreigner) made his tongue to speak Arabic. (A.)

Form 4افصح7 senses · 1 main

maṣdarإِفْصَاحٌ

Core sense — he spoke clearly, or distinctly; it became clearly apparent; her milk became free from admixturegenerated

4.1

See Form 1, first sense, in two places.

4.1.1

Said also of urine, as mentioned by IAar but not explained by him: it became clear, or free from turbidness.

4.1.2her milk became free from admixture—افصحت

Said of a ewe, or she-goat, and of a she-camel.

Or: her milk became free from froth, and clear of its biestings; or her biestings ceased and the milk came after; or her biestings ceased and her milk became free from admixture.

4.1.3figurative · مجاز — inferredhe spoke clearly, or distinctly—افصح

He spoke with فَصَاحَة, that is, with clearness or distinctness, following the explanation of فصاحة in the K and the use of this verb in many examples; or with chasteness, or correctness.

So too افصح الكَلَامَ, افصح بِهِ, and افصح القَوْلَ; but when the verb came into frequent and common use, the object was dropped, as in the case of أَحْسَنَ and the like.

he (a child) began to speak intelligibly—افصح فِى مَنْطِقِهِ

he spoke Arabic, and then became good in his language, or dialect—افصح فُلَانٌ ثُمَّ فَصُحَ

Also: he spoke clearly, or plainly, to another, without indistinctness and without concealment; and, said of a foreigner, he spoke Arabic, or spoke Arabic correctly; and, said of a man of barbarous or faulty or indistinct speech, he spoke intelligibly.

So according to Er-Rāghib, as cited in the Mz, 9th نوع, where it is said that some, less correctly, use these two verbs the other way round. Or: he spoke clearly, or intelligibly, and then became chaste, or good and correct, or eloquent, in his speech.

it (an animal that has no speech) uttered a cry clearly—افصح

he explained a thing—افصح عَنْ شَىْءٍ

Used so in poetry.

in this and the preceding senses.

he showed or revealed [his desire or his meaning]—افصح عَنْ مُرَادِهِ

4.1.4figurative · مجازthe daybreak became clearly apparent; the light of daybreak appeared—افصح الصُّبْحُ

Also said of a thing: it became clearly apparent, manifest, or evident.

4.1.5figurative · مجازthe man got clear out of such a thing, or escaped from it—افصح الرَّجُلُ مِنْ كَذَا

we shall get clear out of our winter—نُفْصِحُ مِنْ شِتَائِنَا

4.1.6figurative · مجازthey (the Christians) celebrated the festival of Easter, and broke their fast, eating meat—أَفْصَحُوا

The festival is called الفِصْح.

[And said also of Jews, meaning they celebrated the Passover: see الفِصْحُ.]

Show Lane's original text

: see 1, first sentence, in two places. It is also said of urine, (K, TA,) as mentioned by IAar, but not expl. by him, (TA,) meaning It became clear, or free from turbidness. (K.) And افصحت is said of a ewe, or she-goat, (S, A, K,) and of a she-camel, (TA,) meaning Her milk became free from admixture; (K;) or free from froth, and clear of its biestings: (A:) or her biestings ceased, and the milk came after: (Lh, TA:) or her biestings ceased, and her milk became free from admixture. (S.) And [hence] افصح signifies also He spoke with فَصَاحَة ; (K, TA;) [i. e. clearness, perspicuousness, or distinctness; accord. to the explanation of فصاحة in the K, and the usage of this verb in numerous exs.; or with chasteness, or correctness;] as also افصح الكَلَامَ and افصح بِهِ , and افصح القَوْلَ ; but when the verb became in frequent use, and commonly known, the objective complement became dropped, as in the case of أَحْسَنَ , &c.: (TA:) he spoke clearly, or plainly, (A, * K, * TA,) to another; (A, TA;) without indistinctness, or without concealment: (TA:) [and] he (a foreigner) spoke Arabic: (S, A, Msb:) or spoke Arabic correctly: (ISk, Msb:) [and] he (a man of barbarous or vitious or indistinct speech) spoke intelligibly. (L.) And one says, افصح فِى مَنْطِقِهِ He (a child) began to speak intelligibly. (A, L.) And افصح فُلَانٌ ثُمَّ فَصُحَ [He spoke Arabic, and then became good in his language, or dialect: so accord. to Er-Rághib, as cited in the Mz, 9th نوع ; in which it is said that some, but not so correctly, use these two verbs in the converse manner: or he spoke clearly, or intelligibly, and then became chaste, or good and correct, or eloquent, in his speech, or language]. (A.) And افصح is also used in poetry as signifying He (an animal not endowed with speech) uttered a sound, or cry, clearly. (L.) And one says, افصح عَنْ شَىْءٍ , inf. n. إِفْصَاحٌ [in this and the preceding senses], meaning He explained a thing. (A, * TA.) And افصح عَنْ مُرَادِهِ He showed or revealed [his desire or his meaning]. (Msb.) Also It (a thing) became clearly apparent, manifest, or evident. (K.) One says, افصح الصُّبْحُ The daybreak became clearly apparent; (A, * K;) the light of daybreak appeared. (S.) And افصح الرَّجُلُ مِنْ كَذَا The man got clear out of such a thing; or escaped from it. (S, TA.) You say, نُفْصِحُ مِنْ شِتَائِنَا We shall get clear out of our winter. (A.) And أَفْصَحُوا They (the Christians, S, A, K) entered upon, (S, K,) or celebrated, (A,) the festival called الفِصْح [or Easter], (S, A, K,) and broke their fast, eating flesh-meat. (TA.) [And said also of Jews, meaning They celebrated the Passover: see الفِصْحُ .]

Form 5تفصّح1 sense

Core sense — he affected chasteness, or clearness, of speechgenerated

5.1figurative · مجاز

He affected the faculty, or quality, of فَصَاحَة فِى كَلَامِهِ [in his speech]; and the same is said with تفاصح.

Or he made use of the faculty of فَصَاحَة.

Or, as some say — though by general analogy this meaning seems to belong more properly to تفاصح — he affected a resemblance to those who have that faculty, [or made a show of فصاحة], like تَحَلَّمَ in the sense "he made a show of الحِلْم", that is, of forbearance and the like, in which sense تَحَالَمَ is more commonly used.

Derived nouns 8

Nounفَصْحٌ1 sense

Core sense — milk free from froth, and clear of its biestingsgenerated

See فَصِيحٌ.

Show Lane's original text

: see فَصِيحٌ .

Nounفِصْحٌ3 senses · 1 main

Core sense — Easter, the festival of the Christians; a cloudless day; milk free from frothgenerated

See فَصِيحٌ, first sentence.

1.1figurative · مجاز

Also a day cloudless because of cold; or a day without clouds and without cold; as also مُفْصِحٌ.

1.2figurative · مجازthe festival of the Christians, namely Easter—الفِصْحُ

Also عِيدُ الفِصْحِ; vulgarly pronounced الفَصْح.

On it they break their fast and eat meat, after fasting forty-eight days, the Sunday after those days being their festival.

[And the Passover of the Jews; also called الفَاسِخَ, thus with س, and خ, more properly called عِيدُ الفَطِيرِ.]

Plural فُصُوحٌ.

Show Lane's original text

: see فَصِيحٌ , first sentence. Also A day cloudless by reason of cold; (ISh, T, TA,) or a day without clouds and without cold; as also مُفْصِحٌ . (K.) And الفِصْحُ [or عِيدُ الفِصْحِ ] (vulgarly pronounced الفَصْح , ISk, Msb) The festival of the Christians, (S, A, Msb, K,) [namely, Easter,] when they break their fast, and eat flesh-meat, (S, Msb,) after haring fasted eight and forty days, the Sunday after these days being their festival: (TA:) [and the Passover of the Jews; also called الفَاسِخَ ; thus with س and خ ; more properly called عِيدُ الفَطِيرِ :] pl. فُصُوحٌ . (Msb, TA.)

Nounفَصِيحٌ2 senses · 1 main

Core sense — chaste, free from barbarousness; clear in speech; milk free from frothgenerated

Milk free from froth and clear of its biestings; or milk that comes after the biestings have ceased; as also فِصْحٌ.

1.1figurative · مجاز — inferreda man whose tongue speaks Arabic correctly—رَجُلٌ فَصِيحُ اللِّسَانِ

And hence: chaste, meaning free from barbarousness; applied in this sense to a word or an expression, to language in general, and to a speaker or writer.

Of a word or an expression: free from an awkward combination of letters, from strangeness, and from going against analogy where frequent usage among the Arabs of pure speech does not sanction it; or one whose beauty is perceived by hearing.

Of language in general: free from weakness of construction and from incongruity of words, together with فَصَاحَة in the words themselves. As the vulgar use it, it means language in which the rules of grammatical inflection are observed, synonym مُعْرَبٌ; and sometimes it means eloquent, synonym بَلِيغٌ, from which it is properly distinct.

Of a man: having a faculty by which he is able to express what he wants, with فَصَاحَة in language; or clear, or distinct, in speech. Also فَصْحٌ, but this last is an intensive adjective, being originally a maṣdar, like عَدْلٌ; and sometimes it means eloquent, synonym بَلَيغٌ. Or مُنْطَلِقُ اللِّسَانِ in speech, one who knows how to tell what is good in language from what is bad.

The plural, as applied to men, is فُصَحَآءِ, فِصَاحٌ, and فُصُحٌ, the last formed in the manner of the broken plural of a noun, as قُضُبٌ is the plural of قَضِيبٌ; the feminine is فَصِيحَةٌ, of which the plural is فِصَاحٌ and فَصَائِحُ.

a tongue free from impediment, or eloquent, or chaste in speech—لِسَانٌ فَصِيحٌ

It is the same as طَلْقٌ; or it means an eloquent tongue.

anyone having the faculty of speech, that is, a human being—فَصِيحٌ

أَعْجَمُ means that which has no faculty of speech, that is, a beast; as also صَامتٌ. Hence the saying لَهُ مَالٌ فَصِيحٌ وَصَامِتٌ [as though meaning he has property consisting of human beings and of beasts: but see صَامِتٌ].

on this sense It also occurs in poetry meaning clear, applied to the cry of an ass.

Show Lane's original text

Milk divested of the froth, (S, A,) and clear of its biestings; (A:) or milk that has come after the ceasing of the biestings; as also فِصْحٌ . (Lh, TA.) [And hence,] Chaste, as meaning free from barbarousness: applied in this sense to a word, or an expression, and to language in general, and to a speaker, or writer: i. e.,] as applied to a word, or an expression, it means [free from an incongruous combination of letters and from strangeness and from contrariety to analogy not sanctioned by frequency of usage among the Arabs of pure speech; (see فَصَاحَةٌ , below:) or] of which the beauty is perceived by hearing: (K:) and as applied to language in general, [free from weakness of construction and from incongruity of works, with فَصَاحَة (which see again) in the words themselves:] as used by the vulgar, it means in which the rules of desinential syntax are observed: syn. مُعْرَبٌ : (L;) [and sometimes it means] eloquent; syn. بَلِيغٌ . [from which it is properly distinct]: (S:) and as applied to a man, [possessing a faculty whereby he is enabled to express what he desires, with فَصَاحَة (which see again) in languages or] clear, perspicuous, or distinct, in speech, or language; as also فَصْحٌ ; (K;) but this latter is an intensive epithet, [being originally an inf. n.,] like عَدْلٌ : (TA:) [and sometimes it signifies] eloquent; syn. بَلَيغٌ [respecting which see what precedes]: (S, A:) or مُنْطَلِقُ اللِّسَانِ [i. e. free from impediment of the tongue, or eloquent, or chaste,] in speech, who knows how to distinguish what is good in language from what is bad: (TA;) the pl. as applied to men is فُصَحَآءِ and فِصَاحٌ and فُصُحٌ , (K, TA,) the last formed in the manner of the broken pl. of a subst., like قُضُبٌ pl. of قَضِيبٌ : (Sb, TA:) the fem. is فَصِيحَةٌ ; of which the pl. is فِصَاحٌ and فَصَائِحُ . (K, TA.) And you say رَجُلٌ فَصِيحُ اللِّسَانِ A man whose tongue speaks Arabic correctly. (Msb.) And لِسَانٌ فَصِيحٌ i. q. طَلْقٌ [A tongue free from impediment, or eloquent, or chaste in speech]: (S:) or an eloquent tongue. (A.) And فَصِيحٌ signifies also Any one having the faculty of speech; (S;) [i. e.] a human being; (TA:) أَعْجَمُ meaning that which is “ destitute of the faculty of speech; ” (S;) [i. e.] “ a beast; ” as also صَامتٌ : whence the saying, لَهُ مَالٌ فَصِيحٌ وَصَامِتٌ [as though meaning He has property consisting of human beings and of beasts: but see صَامِتٌ ]. (TA.) And it also occurs in poetry as meaning Clear, applied to the cry of an ass. (L.)

Nounفَصَاحَةٌ1 sense

Core sense — chasteness of speech, freedom from barbarousness; clearness in languagegenerated

1figurative · مجاز

A maṣdar of فَصُحَ. As denoting a quality of a word, of language in general, and of a speaker or writer, taken from the same word as it relates to milk, it means chasteness, that is, freedom from barbarousness.

In a word: freedom from an awkward combination of letters, from strangeness, and from going against analogy where frequent usage among the Arabs of pure speech does not sanction it (KT, and Mz in the 9th نوع). The point on which it turns is how frequently the word is used by the Arabs of pure speech (Mz); a word is known to have this quality by being used often by the Arabs whose Arabic is trusted, or by being used by them more often than a synonym of it (El-Kazweenee in the Eedáh, cited in the same نوع of the Mz).

In language in general: freedom from weakness of construction and from incongruity of words, combined with فَصَاحَة in the words themselves.

In a speaker or writer: a faculty by which one is able to express what he wants, with فَصَاحَة in language; or goodness and correctness in language, or dialect; or clearness, or distinctness, in speech.

Following an explanation of فَصِيحٌ in the S and A and elsewhere, it is sometimes used to mean eloquence, synonym بَلَاغَةٌ, from which it is properly distinct.

Show Lane's original text

, [an inf. n. of فَصُحَ , q. v.: as denoting a quality of a word, and of language in general, and of a speaker or writer, from the same word as relating to milk, it signifies Chasteness, as meaning freedom from barbarousness: i. e.,] in a word, freedom from an incongruous combination of letters and from strangeness and from contrariety to analogy [not sanctioned by frequency of usage among the Arabs of pure speech; (KT, and Mz in the 9th نوع ;) [for] the point upon which it turns is the frequency of the use of a word by the Arabs [of pure speech]; (Mz ibid.;) a word being known to have this quality by its being frequently used by the Arabs in whose Arabic confidence is placed, or by its being used by them more frequently than one synonymous therewith: (El-Kazweenee in the “ Eedáh, ” cited in the same نوع of the Mz:) and in language [in general], freedom from weakness of construction ( ظَعْفُ التَّأْلِيفِ q. v.) and from incongruity of words, combined with فَصَاحَة in the words themselves: (KT:) and in a speaker [or writer] a faculty whereby one is enabled to express what he desires, with فَصَاحَة in language: (KT:) or goodness and correctness in language, or dialect: (S:) or clearness, perspicuousness, or distinctness, in speech, or language: (K:) and [agreeably with an explanation of فَصِيحٌ in the S and A &c.] it is sometimes used as meaning eloquence; syn. بَلَاغَةٌ [from which it is properly distinct]. (MF.)

Nounأَفْصَحُ1 sense

Core sense — more, or most, chaste; clearer in speechgenerated

More, and most, chaste, meaning free from barbarousness, and the like.

In the Qur'ān 28:34 it means more clear, or more distinct, in tongue.

Qur’ān 28:34 approximate — somewhere between 28:1 and 28:45 Lane cites “Kur xxviii. 34”

Qur’ān 28:34 the verse Lane’s citation points to, and it uses this root

وَأَخِى هَـٰرُونُ هُوَ أَفْصَحُ مِنِّى لِسَانًا فَأَرْسِلْهُ مَعِىَ رِدْءًا يُصَدِّقُنِىٓ ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ أَن يُكَذِّبُونِ

"And my brother Aaron - He is more eloquent in speech than I: so send him with me as a helper, to confirm (and strengthen) me: for I fear that they may accuse me of falsehood."Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur’ān (1934)

Qur’ānic occurrences أَفْصَح

28:34

"And my brother Aaron - He is more eloquent in speech than I: so send him with me as a helper, to confirm (and strengthen) me: for I fear that they may accuse me of falsehood."

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

[More, and most, chaste, as meaning fra from barbarousness; &c.]: in the Kur xxviii. 34, it means more clear or perspicuous or distinct [in tongue] (Jel.)

Nounأَفْصَحِيَّةٌ1 sense

Core sense — the quality of being most chaste in speechgenerated

The quality of being more, and most, chaste, meaning free from barbarousness, and the like.

Show Lane's original text

[ The quality of being more, and most, chaste, as meaning free from barbarousness: &c.]

Nounمُفْصَحٌ1 sense

Core sense — a place where the Christians celebrate Eastergenerated

Or as a noun of place from أَفْصَحُوا (see Form 4, last two sentences).

A place where the Christians celebrate the festival called الفِصْحُ [or Easter].

Apparently also a place where the Jews celebrate the festival they call the Passover.

Show Lane's original text

[or as a n. of place from أَفْصَحُوا (see 4, last two sentences)] A place where the Christians celebrate the festival called الفِصْحُ [or Easter (A.) [And app. also A place where the Jews celebrate the festival so called by them, i. e. the Passover.]

Nounمُفْصِحٌ2 senses · 1 main

Core sense — anything clearly apparent, or evidentgenerated

See فِصْحٌ.

1.1

Also anything clearly apparent, manifest, or evident.

Show Lane's original text

: see فِصْحٌ . Also Anything clearly apparent, manifest, or evident. (S.)