مهد

Form 1 · Form 2 · Form 4 · Form 5 · Form 8 · Form 10 · 12 entries · Qur'ānic frequency 16

Form 1مَهَدَ6 senses · 1 main

muḍāriʿـَيَفْعَلُmaṣdarمَهْدٌ

Core sense — he made it plain, even, or smooth; he prepared it for himselfgenerated

1.1he made a place plain, even, or smooth, for himself—لِنَفْسِهِ

on which see below; also مهّد, maṣdar تَمْهِيدٌ.

He made plain, even, or smooth: this is the original meaning. He made a place plain, even, or smooth, [مَكَانًا being understood].

He also spread a bed and made it plain, even, or smooth.

1.1.1figurative · مجاز — inferredhe did well, or kindly, in his affair in his absence—مَهَدَ لَهُ

Like فَهَدَ and فَأَدَ; mentioned under فهد.

1.1.2he gained, or earned, or sought to gain sustenance, and worked—مَهَدَ

With لِنَفْسِهِ: for himself.

1.1.3figurative · مجازhe prepared for himself good, good things, or the like—مَهَدَ لِنَفْسِهِ خَيْرًا

he prepared for himself good, good things, or the like—امتهدهُ

1.1.4figurative · مجاز[He prepared, or established, for him a high station]—مهّد لَهُ مَنْزِلَةً سَنِيَّةً

1.1.5figurative · مجاز[Such a one has not prepared for himself, with me, a benefit, for me to owe it him]—مَا ٱمْتَهَدَ فُلَانٌ عِنْدِى يَدًا

You say this when someone has not done you a favour or kindness.

[Such a one has not prepared for himself, with me, that thing, that I should owe it him]—مَا ٱمْتَهَدَ فُلَانٌ عِنْدِى مَهْدَ ذَاكَ

Said when someone asks a kindness without having first done a benefit; and of one who behaves badly, when asking a kindness, or when a kindness is asked for him.

Qur’ānic occurrences Form 1

30:44

مَن كَفَرَ فَعَلَيْهِ كُفْرُهُۥ ۖ وَمَنْ عَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا فَلِأَنفُسِهِمْ يَمْهَدُونَ

Those who reject Faith will suffer from that rejection: and those who work righteousness will spread their couch (of repose) for themselves (in heaven):

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

, (S, L, K,) aor. مَهَدَ , (L, K,) inf. n. مَهْدٌ [q. v. infra]; (S, L;) and مهّد , (L, K,) inf. n. تَمْهِيدٌ ; (TA;) He made plain, even, or smooth, this is the original signification: he made a place plain, even, or smooth, [ مَكَانًا being understood,] لِنَفْسِهِ for himself: (L:) he spread a bed, (S, L, K,) and made it plain, even, or smooth. (S, L.) مَهَدَ لَهُ He did well, or kindly, in his affair in his absence; like فَهَدَ and فَأَدَ . (L, art. فهد .) مَهَدَ , aor. مَهَدَ , (inf. n. مَهْدٌ , L,) He gained, or earned, or sought to gain sustenance, and worked, (L, K,) لِنَفْسِهِ for himself. (L.) مَهَدَ لِنَفْسِهِ خَيْرًا , and امتهدهُ , He prepared for himself good, good things, or the like. (L.) مهّد لَهُ مَنْزِلَةً سَنِيَّةً [He prepared, or established, for him a high station]. (A.) مَا ٱمْتَهَدَ فُلَانٌ عِنْدِى يَدًا [Such a one has not prepared for himself, with me, a benefit, for me to owe it him]: you say this when one has not conferred upon you a favour or kindness. (AZ, L.) And مَا ٱمْتَهَدَ فُلَانٌ عِنْدِى مَهْدَ ذَاكَ [Such a one has not prepared for himself, with me, that thing, that I should owe it him]; is said on one's asking a kindness without having previously conferred a benefit; (AZ, JK, L;) and with reference to one who acts in an evil manner, when asking a kindness, or when a kindness is asked for him. (AZ, L.)

Form 2مهّد3 senses · 1 main

maṣdarتَمْهِيدٌ

Core sense — he adjusted an affair and made it plain and easygenerated

2.1figurative · مجاز

He adjusted, or arranged, an affair, and made it plain and easy. See form 1.

2.1.1figurative · مجاز — inferredhe disposed and subjected his mind, or himself, to do the thing—مهّد نَفْسَهُ لِفِعْلِ الأَمْرِ

Mentioned under وطن.

2.1.2figurative · مجازhe accepted, or admitted, an excuse—مهّد

I accepted, or admitted, his excuse—مَهَّدْتُ لَهُ العُذْرَ

Qur’ānic occurrences Form 2

74:14

وَمَهَّدتُّ لَهُۥ تَمْهِيدًا

To whom I made (life) smooth and comfortable!

Show Lane's original text

, inf. n. تَمْهِيدٌ , He adjusted, or arranged, an affair, (S, A, L, Msb, K,) and made it plain, (A, Msb,) and easy. (Msb.) See 1. مهّد نَفْسَهُ لِفِعْلِ الأَمْرِ He disposed and subjected his mind, or himself, to do the thing. (S, * K, * Msb, art. وطن .) مهّد , inf. n. تَمْهِيدٌ , He accepted, or admitted, an excuse. (S, L, Msb, K.) You say, مَهَّدْتُ لَهُ العُذْرَ I accepted, or admitted, his excuse. (Msb.)

Form 4أَمْهَدَتْ بِوَلَدِهَا2 senses · 1 main

Core sense — she brought forth her child with a single impulsegenerated

4.1

She (a woman) brought forth, or cast forth, her child with a single impulse. IAar, mentioned under خفد.

4.1.1

أَمْهَدَتْ بِالوَلَدِ means the same as أَسْهَدَتْ بِهِ and as زَكَبْت بِهِ and the like.

Show Lane's original text

She (a woman) brought forth, or cast forth, her child with a single impulse. (IAar, in L, art. خفد .) أَمْهَدَتْ بِالوَلَدِ is syn. with أَسْهَدَتْ بِهِ ; (IAar, O, TA in art. سهد ;) and زَكَبْت بِهِ , &c. (IAar, L, in art. خفد .)

Form 5تمهّد6 senses · 1 main

Core sense — it became spread and smooth; the affair became easy for him; he gained powergenerated

5.1it (a bed) became spread, and made plain, even, or smooth—امتهد

This form has the same meaning.

5.1.1figurative · مجازthe affair became adjusted, or arranged, and made plain and easy for him—تمهّد لَهُ الأَمْرُ

5.1.2[He spread for himself a bed, and made it plain, even, or smooth]—تمهّد فِرَاشًا

5.1.3figurative · مجاز[A genteel situation was prepared for him with me, or at my abode]—تَمَهَّدَتْ لَهُ عِنْدِى حَالٌ لَطِيفَةٌ

5.1.4figurative · مجاز — inferredhe (a man) became possessed of authority and power—تمهّد

Same meaning as تَمَكَّنَ.

5.1.5figurative · مجاز — inferredhis mind, or he, became disposed and subjected—تمهّدت نَفْسُهُ

[لِفِعْلِ الأَمْرِ to do the thing; see form 2].

Same meaning as تَوَطَّنَتْ; mentioned under وطن.

Show Lane's original text

and امتهد It (a bed) became spread, and made plain, even, or smooth. (A.) تمهّد لَهُ الأَمْرُ The affair became adjusted, or arranged, and made plain, and easy, for, or to, him. (Msb.) تمهّد فِرَاشًا [He spread for himself a bed, and made it plain, even, or smooth]. (A.) تَمَهَّدَتْ لَهُ عِنْدِى حَالٌ لَطِيفَةٌ [A genteel situation was prepared for him with me, or at my abode]. (A.) تمهّد He (a man, TA) became possessed of authority and power; syn. تَمَكَّنَ . (S, L, K.) تمهّدت نَفْسُهُ His mind, or he, became disposed and subjected [ لِفِعْلِ الأَمْرِ to do the thing; see 2]; syn. تَوَطَّنَتْ . (K, art. وطن .)

Form 8امتهد1 sense

Core sense — it (a camel's hump) became spreading and highgenerated

8.1

It (a camel's hump) became spreading and high. See form 1, in three places.

Show Lane's original text

It (a camel's hump) became spreading and high. (S, L, K.) See 1 in three places.

Form 10استمهد فِرَاشًا1 sense

Core sense — he asked that a bed be spread and smoothed for himgenerated

10.1

[He asked, or desired, that a bed should be spread for him, and made plain, even, or smooth].

Show Lane's original text

[He asked, or desired, that a bed should be spread for him, and made plain, even, or smooth]. (A.)

Derived nouns 6

Nounمَهْدٌ4 senses · 1 main

Core sense — a child's cradle; a bed spread to lie on; a level expansegenerated

1a bed; a thing spread to lie, recline, or sit upon—مِهَادٌ

A child's cradle, or bed; a place prepared for a child, and made plain, even, or smooth, so that he may sleep in it.

So called because of its plainness, evenness, or smoothness.

Az says that the latter word is more comprehensive than the former; it is applied to the ground, or earth, meaning a plain, an even, or a smooth expanse — see a verse of Lebeed cited under خَوَالِقُ — and so is مَهْدٌ.

Some say that مَهْدٌ and مِهَادٌ are originally two maṣdars of the same meaning; or that the former is a maṣdar and the latter a simple substantive; or that the former is singular and the latter plural.

The plural of the former, in common use, is مُهُودٌ and مِهَادٌ; of the latter, the plural of paucity is أَمْهِدَةٌ and the plural of multitude مُهُدٌ.

1.1Have we not made the earth an expanse adapted to be travelled over?—أَلَمْ نَجْعَلِ ٱلْأَرْضَ مِهَادًا

Qur 78:6; the word for expanse is بِسَاط.

1.2figurative · مجازEvil is that which he has prepared for himself in his final place—لَبِئْسَ المِهَادُ

Qur 2:202. Such is said to be the meaning.

Qur’ān 2:206 approximate — somewhere between 2:191 and 2:223 Lane cites “Kur. ii. 202”

Qur’ān 2:206 the verse Lane’s citation points to, and it uses this root

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُ ٱتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ أَخَذَتْهُ ٱلْعِزَّةُ بِٱلْإِثْمِ ۚ فَحَسْبُهُۥ جَهَنَّمُ ۚ وَلَبِئْسَ ٱلْمِهَادُ

When it is said to him, "Fear Allah", He is led by arrogance to (more) crime. Enough for him is Hell;-An evil bed indeed (To lie on)!Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur’ān (1934)

1.3Good; goodly—سَهْدٌ مَهْدٌ

The second word is an imitative sequent.

Qur’ānic occurrences مَهْد 4 shown of 5

3:46

وَيُكَلِّمُ ٱلنَّاسَ فِى ٱلْمَهْدِ وَكَهْلًا وَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ

"He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. And he shall be (of the company) of the righteous."

19:29

فَأَشَارَتْ إِلَيْهِ ۖ قَالُوا۟ كَيْفَ نُكَلِّمُ مَن كَانَ فِى ٱلْمَهْدِ صَبِيًّا

But she pointed to the babe. They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?"

20:53

ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ مَهْدًا وَسَلَكَ لَكُمْ فِيهَا سُبُلًا وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِۦٓ أَزْوَٰجًا مِّن نَّبَاتٍ شَتَّىٰ

"He Who has, made for you the earth like a carpet spread out; has enabled you to go about therein by roads (and channels); and has sent down water from the sky." With it have We produced diverse pairs of plants each separate from the others.

43:10

ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ مَهْدًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمْ فِيهَا سُبُلًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ

(Yea, the same that) has made for you the earth (like a carpet) spread out, and has made for you roads (and channels) therein, in order that ye may find guidance (on the way);

Show Lane's original text

[A child's cradle, or bed;] a place prepared for a child, and made plain, even, or smooth, (S, * L, K,) that he may sleep in it: (L:) a bed; a thing spread to lie, recline, or sit, upon; (A, Msb;) as also مِهَادٌ ; (S, A, L, Msb, K;) so called because of its plainness, evenness, or smoothness: (L:) Az says, that the latter word is more comprehensive than the former: (L:) it is applied to the ground, or earth; [meaning a plain, an even, or a smooth expanse; see a verse of Lebeed cited voce خَوَالِقُ :] (Az, L, K:) and so is مَهْدٌ : (K:) some say, that مَهْدٌ and مِهَادٌ are [originally] two inf. ns., of the same meaning: or that the former is an inf. n., and the latter a simple subst.: or that the former is sing., and the latter pl.: (MF:) the pl. of the former [in common use] is مُهُودٌ , (L, Msb, K,) and مِهَادٌ ; and of the latter, [pl. of pauc.,] أَمْهِدَةٌ (L, K) and [of mult.,] مُهُدٌ . (L, Msb, K.) أَلَمْ نَجْعَلِ ٱلْأَرْضَ مِهَادًا [Kur, lxxviii. 6,] Have we not made the earth an expanse ( بِسَاط ) adapted to be travelled over. (K, TA.) لَبِئْسَ المِهَادُ [Kur. ii. 202,] Evil is that which he hath prepared for himself in his final place. (K.) Such is said to be the meaning. (TA.) سَهْدٌ مَهْدٌ Good; goodly: the latter word is an imitative sequent. (L.)

Nounمُهْدٌ1 sense

Core sense — elevated ground; or low, smooth, even groundgenerated

Elevated ground or land; or depressed, smooth, and even ground or land; also مُهْدَةٌ. En-Nadr.

Plural مِهَدَةٌ and أَمْهَادٌ, but the first of these plurals is doubtful.

Show Lane's original text

Elevated ground or land: (IAar, L, K:) or depressed and smooth and even ground or land; (K;) as also مُهْدَةٌ : (En-Nadr, K:) pl. مِهَدَةٌ and أَمْهَادٌ : (K:) but the former of these pls. is doubtful. (TA.)

Nounمُهْدَةٌ1 sense

Core sense — low, smooth, even ground; or elevated groundgenerated

See مُهْدٌ.

Show Lane's original text

: see مُهْدٌ .

Nounمِهَادٌ1 sense

Core sense — a bed spread to lie on; a level expanse of groundgenerated

See مَهْدٌ.

Qur’ānic occurrences مِهَٰد 1 shown of 7

78:6

أَلَمْ نَجْعَلِ ٱلْأَرْضَ مِهَـٰدًا

Have We not made the earth as a wide expanse,

Show Lane's original text

: see مَهْدٌ .

Nounمَهِيدٌ1 sense

Core sense — pure butter, the purest of melted buttergenerated

Pure butter; or the purest of butter when melted, and that which has the least milk in it.

Show Lane's original text

Pure butter: (L, K:) or the purest of butter when melted, and that which has the least milk. (L.)

Nounمُمَهَّدٌ1 sense

Core sense — lukewarm water, neither hot nor coldgenerated

1figurative · مجاز

Lukewarm water; neither hot nor cold.

Show Lane's original text

Lukewarm water; neither hot nor cold. (A, K.)