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نفس

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Form 1نَفُسَ5 senses · 4 main
muḍāriʿـُيَفْعُلُ·ـَيَفْعَلُmaṣdarنَفَاسَةٌ إِنْفَاسٌ نَفَسٌ نَفْسٌ

Core sense — it was high in estimation, precious; he was avaricious of it; she brought forthgenerated

1.1it was, or became, loved, and highly esteemedأَنْفَسَ

maṣdar نَفَاسَةٌ, نِفَاسٌ, نَفسٌ, and نُفُوسٌ: it was, or became, high in estimation, of high account, or excellent; [highly prized; precious, or valuable;] and so was desired with emulation, or in much request.

. Said of property.

1.2he was, or became, avaricious, tenacious, or niggardly, of itنَفِسَ بِهِ

[and apparently نَفْسٌ, as will be shown below] and نَفَاسَةٌ and نَفَاسِيَةٌ, this last being exceptional. The avarice is because the thing is in high estimation, or excellent.

he is only avaricious from his avariceفَإِنَّمَا يَبْخَلُ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ
he was avaricious of the thing towards him, or withheld it from himنَفِسَ عَلَيْهِ بِالشَّىْءِ

Hence the saying in the Qur'ān, 47:40; this appears to be the meaning.

Also عَنْهُ, [in the place of عليه].

he was avaricious of the thing towards him, and thought him not worthy of itنَفِسَ عَلَيْهِ الشَّىْءَ

Also بِالشَّىْءِ. He was also not pleased at its coming to him; or the meaning is simply that he thought him not worthy of it. نافسهُ فِيهِ has the same sense, and of this last verb there is an example in the phrase تُنَافِسُ دُنْيَا, used by a poet speaking of the tribe of Kureysh, meaning either تُنَافِسُ فِى دُنْبَا [they think others not worthy of worldly good] or تُنَافسُ أَهْلَ دُنْيَا [they think the possessors of worldly good unworthy of it]. [See also form 3, below.]

you envied me good, and did not consider me worthy of itنَفِسْتَ عَلَىَّ بِخَيْرٍ

Also بِخَيْرٍ قَلِيل and نَفِسْتَ عَلَىَّ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا. The good may be little or much.

such a one does not envy us the spoil and the victoryفُلَانٌ مَا يَتَنَغَّسُ عَلَيْنَا الغَنِيمَةَ وَالظَّفَرَ

This appears to be the meaning.

what is this envying?مَا هٰذَا النَّفَسُ
1.3figurative · مجازshe (a woman) brought forthنُفِسَتْ

Some of the Arabs say نَفِسَتْ. Maṣdar نِفَاسٌ, نِفَاسةٌ, and نَفَسٌ; or the first of these nouns is a simple substantive.

she brought forth a childنُفِسَتْ وَلَدًا
she brought forth her childنُفِسَتْ بِوَلَدِهَا
such a one inherited this before such a one was bornوَرِث فُلَانٌ هٰذَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَنْفَسَ فُلَانٌ
1.3.1figurative · مجازshe (a woman) menstruatedنَفِسَتْ

Both verbs have this sense, or only this one; or this one is the more common, the other, related on the authority of As, not being well known.

[In the CK a confusion arises from the omission of a و before the verb that explains this sense.]

This sense and the one before it come from نَفْسٌ, meaning “blood.”

1.4figurative · مجازI smote him with an [evil or envious] eyeنَفَسْتُهُ بِنَفْسِ
Show Lane's original text
, aor. نَفُسَ , inf. n. نَفَاسَةٌ (S, M, A, Msb, K) and نِفَاسٌ and نَفسٌ (K) and نُفُوسٌ ; (TA;) and أَنْفَسَ , (M, A, Msb,) inf. n. إِنْفَاسٌ ; (A, Msb;) It was, or became, high in estimation, of high account, or excellent; (M, Msb, TA;) [highly prized; precious, or valuable;] and therefore, (TA,) was desired with emulation, or in much request: (S, K, TA:) and the ↓ latter verb, said of property, it was, or became, loved, and highly esteemed. (TA.) نَفِسَ بِهِ , (S, M, Msb, K,) aor. نَفَسَ , (K,) inf. n. نَفَسٌ (M) [and app. نَفْسٌ as will be shown below] and نَفَاسَةٌ and نَفَاسِيَةٌ , which last is extr., (M, TA,) He was, or became avaricious, tenacious, or niggardly, of it, (S, M, Msb, K,) because of its being in high estimation, or excellent. (Msb.) Hence the saying in the Kur, [xlvii. 40,] فَإِنَّمَا يَبْخَلُ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ [app. meaning He is only avaricious from his avarice.] (TA.) You say, نَفِسَ عَلَيْهِ بِالشَّىْءِ , (M,) or عَنْهُ [in the place of عليه ], (TA,) He was, or became, avaricious, &c., of the thing, towards him, or withholding it from him. (M, TA.) And نَفِسَ عَلَيْهِ الشَّىْءَ , (S, M, K, TA,) and بِالشَّىْءِ , (M,) inf. n. نَفَاسَةٌ . (S, K, TA,) He was, or became, avaricious, &c., of the thing, towards him, and thought him not worthy of it, and was not pleased at its coming to him: (TA:) or [simply] he thought him not worthy of it: (S, M, K;) as also نافسهُ فِيهِ ; of which last verb we have an ex. in the phrase تُنَافِسُ دُنْيَا , used by a poet in speaking of the tribe of Kureysh, meaning either تُنَافِسُ فِى دُنْبَا [they think others not worthy of worldly good]. or تُنَافسُ أَهْلَ دُنْيَا [they think the possessors of worldly good unworthy thereof]. (M.) [See also 3, below.] You say also, نَفِسْتَ عَلَىَّ بِخَيْرٍ , (A, K,) or بِخَيْرٍ قَلِيل , (S,) and نَفِسْتَ عَلَىَّ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا , (A,) inf. n. نَفْسٌ and نَفَاسَةٌ , (A,) Thou enviedst me (S, A, K) good, (A, K,) or a little good, (S,) and much good, (A.) and didst not consider me worthy of it. (A.) And فُلَانٌ مَا يَتَنَغَّسُ عَلَيْنَا الغَنِيمَةَ وَالظَّفَرَ [app. meaning Such a one does not envy us the spoil and the victory.] (A, in continuation of what here immediately precedes.) And مَا هٰذَا النَّفَسُ What is this envying? (A, TA.) نُفِسَتْ ; (S, M, A, Msb, K;) and نَفِسَتْ , (S, M, Msb, K,) as some of the Arabs say, (Msb.) aor. , (Msb, K:) inf. n. نِفَاسٌ and نِفَاسةٌ (S, M) and نَفَسٌ , (M, TA,) or the first of these ns. is a simple subst.; (Msb;) She (a woman) brought forth; (S, M, K;) and نُفِسَتْ وَلَدًا [she brought forth a child]: (Th, M:) and نُفِسَتْ بِوَلَدِهَا [she brought forth her child]. (A.) You say also, وَرِث فُلَانٌ هٰذَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَنْفَسَ فُلَانٌ , meaning, Such a one inherited this before such a one was born. (S.) Also, both these verbs, (Msb, K,) or the latter, نَفِسَتْ , only, (Az, Mgh, TA,) or the latter is the more common, (K.) the former, which is related on the authority of As, not being well known, (Msb,) She (a woman) menstruated. (Az, Mgh, Msb, K.) [In the CK, a confusion is made by the omission of a و before the verb which explains this last signification.] This signification and that next preceding it are from نَفْسٌ meaning “ blood. ” (Mgh.) نَفَسْتُهُ بِنَفْسِ I smote him with an [evil or envious] eye. (S, K, TA.)
Form 2نفّسهُ فِيهِ4 senses · 3 main
maṣdarتَنْفِيسٌ

Core sense — he removed, or cleared away, his grief, sorrow, or anxiety; he granted him a delaygenerated

2.1

Or بِهِ: see form 4.

2.2figurative · مجازHe (God) removed, or cleared away, his grief, sorrow, or anxietyنفّس كُرْبَتَهُ

Also نفّس عَنْهُ كُرْبَتَهُ and, as a quasi-maṣdar, نَفَسٌ.

he removed his grief; he made his circumstances ample and easyنفّس عَنْهُ

Said of a man: he eased him, or relieved him, syn. رَفَّهَ. The same phrase also means: he granted him a delay, the object being left out.

grant me a delayنَفِّسْنِى

Or, with a word left out, نَفِّسْ كَرْبِى or غَمِّى [remove my grief, &c.].

2.2.1a particle of amplificationحَرْفُ تَنْفِيسٍ

Applied to the prefix سَ [and its variants سَوْفَ, etc.], because it changes the muḍāriʿ from the narrow time, which is the present, to the ample time, which is the future; so the Mughnee, in the article س.

2.3figurative · مجازhe cracked the bowنفّس القَوْسَ

See form 5.

According to ISh: he put its string on the bow.

Show Lane's original text
, or بِهِ : see 4. نفّس كُرْبَتَهُ , (A, Mgh, Msb, K, *) and نفّس عَنْهُ كُرْبَتَهُ , (S,) inf. n. تَنْفِيسٌ (S, Msb, K) and [quasi-inf. n.] نَفَسٌ , (K,) He (God) removed, or cleared away, his grief, or sorrow, or anxiety: (S, A, Mgh, Msb, K *:) and نفّس عَنْهُ signifies the same; (M, Mgh;) and He made his circumstances ample and easy; (M, TA;) and he (a man) eased him, or relieved him, syn. رَفَّهَ : (S, TA:) and also, this last phrase, he granted him a delay: the objective compliment being omitted: and نَفِّسْنِى is used as meaning grant thou to me a delay: or, elliptically, نَفِّسْ كَرْبِى or غَمِّى [remove thou my grief, &c.]. (Mgh.) [Hence] حَرْفُ تَنْفِيسٍ , applied to the prefix سَ [and its variants سَوْفَ &c.], meaning A particle of amplification; because changing the aor. from the strait time which is the present, to the ample time, which is the future. (Mughnee, in art. س .) نفّس القَوْسَ He cracked the bow: (Kr. M:) [see 5:] accord. to ISh, he put ( حَطَّ ) its string [upon the bow]. (TA.)
Form 3نافس فِى الشَّىْءِ1 sense
maṣdarمُنَافَسَةٌ

Core sense — he desired the thing, or aspired to it, with generous emulationgenerated

3.1he desired the thing, [or aspired to it,] with generous emulationتنافس

Maṣdar مُنَافَسَةٌ and نِفَاسٌ.

he vied with his companion in desire for itنافس صَاحِبَهُ فِيهِ
they desired it, or aspired to it; or they vied with one another in desiring itتنافسوا فيه

Or they desired it with emulation, syn. فَراغَبَوا; [and يُنَنَافسُ فيه it is emulously desired, or in request, or in great request.]

desiring to have a thing, and to have it for oneself aloneمُنَافَسَهٌ

Also تَنَافُسٌ; from نَفِيسٌ, meaning a thing good, or goodly, or excellent, in its kind.

we envied one another for that thing, and strove to be first in attaining itتَنَافَسْنَا ذٰلِكَ الأَمْرَ

Also تنافسنا فيه.

See also تَفِسَ عَلَيْهِ الشَّىْءَ, with which نَافَسَهُ فِيهِ is synonymous.

Show Lane's original text
, (S, K. *) inf. n. مُنَافَسَةٌ and نِفَاسٌ , (S,) He desired the thing, [or aspired to it.] with generous emulation; (S, K;) as also تنافس : (K:) and نافس صَاحِبَهُ فِيهِ [he vied with his companion in desire for it]: (A:) or تنافسوا فيه signifies they desired it [or aspired to it]: (S:) or they vied, one with another, in desiring it: or they desired it with emulation; syn. فَراغَبَوا : (A, TA:) [and يُنَنَافسُ فيه it is emulously desired, or in request; or in great request:] or مُنَافَسَهٌ and تَنَافُسٌ signify the desiring to have a thing, and to have it for himself exclusively of any other person; from نَفِيسٌ , signifying a thing “ good, or goodly, or excellent, in its kind: ” (TA:) and تَنَافَسْنَا ذٰلِكَ الأَمْرَ and تنافسنا فيه we envied one another for that thing, and strove for priority in attaining it. (M.) See also تَفِسَ عَلَيْهِ الشَّىْءَ , with which نَافَسَهُ فِيهِ is syn. (M.)
Form 4انفس4 senses · 3 main

Core sense — it pleased him, and made him desirous of itgenerated

4.1

See نَفُسَ, in two places.

4.2it (a thing) pleased him, and made him desirous of itانفسهُ

Or: it became highly esteemed by him.

4.2.1he made me desirous of itأَنْفَسَنى فِيهِ

Also تَفَّسَنِى فيه, or بِهِ. (So in my copy of the A.)

4.3how powerful is his evil, or envious, eye!مَا أَنْفَسَهُ
Show Lane's original text
: see نَفُسَ , in two places. انفسهُ It (a thing, TA) pleased him, (K, TA,) and made him desirous of it: (TA:) or became highly esteemed by him. (IKtt.) أَنْفَسَنى فِيهِ He made me desirous of it; (S, M, A, K:) as also تَفَّسَنِى فيه , (IAar, M, TA,) or بِهِ . (So in my copy of the A.) مَا أَنْفَسَهُ How powerful is his evil, or envious, eye! (Lh, M.)
Form 5تنفّس8 senses · 2 main

Core sense — he breathed; it became extended, or long; he drank with restings between draughtsgenerated

5.1he sighedتنفّس الصُّعَدَآءَ

He breathed; said of a man and of every animal having lungs. Or: he drew breath; or he drew breath through the air-passages in his nose, into his inside, and emitted it.

See also the article صعد.

5.1.1figurative · مجاز

Said of a man: he emitted wind from beneath him.

5.1.2figurative · مجاز — inferredhe drank from the vessel with three restings between draughtsتنفّس فِى الإِنَآءِ

The verb of this entry has the same sense. He separated the vessel from his mouth at each such resting.

Or, on the contrary, this phrase means: he drank from the vessel without separating it from his mouth; and this way of drinking is disapproved.

5.1.3figurative · مجاز — inferredhe lengthened his speech; he spoke longتنفّس

When a speaker takes breath it is easy for him to lengthen his speech.

تنفس فِى الكَلَامِ means the same.

5.1.4figurative · مجاز — inferredlife became long, or protracted, with himتنفّس بِهِ العُمُرُ

Hence said of life: it became protracted and extended far, or it became ample.

the water of the Tigris increasedتنفّست دِجْلَةُ

on this sense Said of the day, of the dawn, and of other things: it became extended; it became long. Of the day, according to Lh: it advanced until it became noon; or it increased; or it extended far.

on this sense Said of the dawn: it shone forth and extended until it became clear day; or it broke, so that things became plain by it; or it rose (Mujáhid); or its dusty hue shone at the approach of a gentle wind.

5.1.5figurative · مجازthe waves sprinkled the waterتنفّس المَوْجُ
5.1.6figurative · مجازthe bow crackedتنفّست القَوْسُ

Only a stick that is not split in two does this, and such is the best of bows.

تنفّس, in the same sense, is said of an arrow.

5.2

[تنفّس عَلَيْهِ الشَّىْءَ appears to mean the same as نَفِسَ عليه الشىء, which see.]

Qur’ānic occurrences Form 5
81:18
وَٱلصُّبْحِ إِذَا تَنَفَّسَ

And the Dawn as it breathes away the darkness;-

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
[He breathed] is said of a man and of every animal having lungs: (S:) [or it signifies] he drew ( اِسْتَمَدَّ ) breath: (M:) or [he respired, i. e.] he drew breath with the air-passages in his nose; to his inside, and emitted it. (Msb.) You say also, تنفّس الصُّعَدَآءَ [He sighed: see also art. صعد ]. (S.) He (a man) emitted wind from beneath him. (TA.) Also, (TA,) or تنفّس فِى الإِنَآءِ , (K,) He drank (K, TA) from the vessel (TA) with three restings between draughts, and separated the vessel from his mouth at every such resting: (K, TA.) and, contr., the latter phrase, he drank [from the vessel] without separating it from his mouth: (K, TA:) which latter mode of drinking is disapproved. (TA.) Also تنفّس He lengthened in speech; he spoke long; for when a speaker takes breath, it is easy to him to lengthen his speech; and تنفس فِى الكَلَامِ signifies the same. (TA.) It (said of the day, M, A, and of the dawn, A, and of other things, M) became extended; (M;) it became long; (M, A;) or, said of the day, accord. to Lh, it advanced so that it became noon: (M:) or it increased: (S:) and it extended far: and hence it is said of life, meaning either it became protracted, and extended far, or it became ample: (M:) and, said of the dawn, it shone forth, (Akh, S, K, TA,) and extended so that it became clear day: (Fr, TA:) or it broke, so that things became plain in consequence of it: (TA:) or it rose: (Mujáhid:) or its dusty hue shone at the approach of a gentle wind. (Bd, lxxxi. 18.) You say also, تنفّس بِهِ العُمُرُ [Life became long, or protracted, &c., with him]. (A.) And تنفّست دِجْلَةُ The water of the Tigris increased. (TA.) تنفّس المَوْجُ The waves sprinkled the water. (S, K.) تنفّست القَوْسُ The bow cracked. (S, M, K.) It is only the stick that is not split in twain that does so; and this is the best of bows. And تنفّس in the same sense is said of an arrow. (M.) [ تنفّس عَلَيْهِ الشَّىْءَ app. signifies the same as نَفِسَ عليه الشىء , q. v.]
Form 6تَنَاْفَسَ1 sense

Core sense — they vied with one another in desiring the thing, with generous emulationgenerated

6.1

See form 3, throughout.

Qur’ānic occurrences Form 6
83:26
خِتَـٰمُهُۥ مِسْكٌ ۚ وَفِى ذَٰلِكَ فَلْيَتَنَافَسِ ٱلْمُتَنَـٰفِسُونَ

The seal thereof will be Musk: And for this let those aspire, who have aspirations:

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 3, throughout.

Derived nouns 18

Nounنَفْسٌ20 senses · 3 main

Core sense — the soul, the spirit; a thing's self, a person; bloodgenerated

1figurative · مجازhis soul, or spirit, went forthخَرَجَتْ نَفْسُهُ

The soul; the spirit; the vital principle; syn. رُوحٌ. But there is a difference between these two words [which must be fully explained later, though ISd says it is not the purpose of his book, the M, to explain it]. In this sense the word is feminine. Plural, of paucity, أَنْفُسٌ, and of multitude, نُفُوسٌ.

Aboo-Is-hák; and جَادَتْ نَفْسُهُ is used in the same way.

it is in the mind of such a one to do so and soفِى نَفْسِ فُلَانٍ أَنْ يَفْعَلَ كَذَا وَكَذَا

And a poet says — not Aboo-Khirásh, as in the S, but Hudheyfeh Ibn-Anas —

shāhid
نَجَا سَالِمٌ والنَّفْسُ مِنْهُ بِشِدْقِهِوَلَمْ يَنْجُ إِلَّا جَفْنَ سَيْفٍ وَمِئْزَرَا

that is, [Sálim escaped when the soul was in the side of his mouth; but he escaped only] with the scabbard of a sword and a waist-wrapper.

Aboo-Is-hák cites this for the same sense, but the phrase seems rather to be about the mind.

Some of the lexicologists hold the نَفْس and the رُوح to be one and the same, except that the former is feminine and the latter [generally or often] masculine. Others say the latter is that by which there is life, and the former that by which there is intellect, or reason; so that when one sleeps God takes away his نفس but not his روح, which is not taken except at death; and the نَفْس is so called because of its connexion with the نَفَس [or breath].

Or every man has نَفْسَانِ [two souls]: (I'Ab) نَفْسُ العَقْلِ [the soul of intellect, or reason, also called النَّفْسُ النَّاطِقَةُ ], by which one discriminates, that is, the mind, (I'Ab,) or نَفْسُ التَّمْيِيزِ [the soul of discrimination], which leaves him when he sleeps, so that he does not understand by it, God taking it away; and نَفْسُ الرُّوحِ [the soul of the breath], by which one lives, (I'Ab,) or نَفْسُ الحَيَاةِ [the soul of life], and when this leaves him the breath leaves with it, whereas the sleeper breathes. This is the difference between the taking away of the نفس of the sleeper in sleep and the taking away of the نفس of the living [at death].

Much has been said about the نَفْس and the رُوح, whether they are one or different; but the truth is that there is a difference, since they are not always interchangeable. It is said in the Qur'ān, 15:29 and 38:72, وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِنْ رُوحِى [And I have blown into him of my spirit]; not مِنْ نَفْسِى. And 5:116, تَعْلَمُ مَا فِى نَفْسِى [to be explained later]; not فِى رُوحِى, nor would that expression be right except from Jesus. And 58:9, وَيَقُولُونَ فِى أَنْفُسِهِمْ [And they say in their souls, or within themselves]; for which it would not be right to say فِى أَرْوَاحِهِمْ. And 39:57, أَنْ تَقُولَ نَفْسٌ [That a soul shall say]; for which no Arab would say أَنْ تَقُولَ رُوحٌ. So the difference between them depends on considerations of relation.

This is shown by a tradition in which God created Adam and put into him a نَفْس and a رُوح: from the latter came his abstaining from unlawful and indecent things, his understanding, his forbearance, his liberality and his fidelity; and from the former, [which is also called النَّفْسُ الأَمَّارَةُ, which see, in the article أمر,] his appetite, his unsteadiness, his hastiness of temper and his anger. So one should not say that نَفْسٌ is the same as رُوحٌ without restriction, nor رُوحٌ the same as نَفْس.

The Arabs also make the discriminative نَفْس to be two, because it sometimes commands the man to do a thing and sometimes forbids him, and this on the occasion of setting about something disliked; so they make that which commands him to be one نفس and that which forbids him to be as though it were another نفس.

such a one consults his two souls, or mindsفُلَانٌ يُؤَامِرُ نَفْسَيْهِ

Mentioned by Z; said of a man when two opinions occur to him.

[بِنَفْسِى فُلَانٌ is a phrase sometimes used with a word left out, for بِنَفْسِى فُلَانٌ مَفْدِىٌّ, which see in the article فدى.]

1.1figurative · مجاز — inferredI saw such a one himselfرَأَيْتُ فُلَانًا نَفْسَهُ

A thing's self, used to strengthen the sense; Aboo-Is-hák: its whole, and its essential constituent. Plural as above, أَنْفُسٌ and نُفُوسٌ.

he came to me himselfجَآءَنِى بِنَفْسِهِ

Or, more properly, حَآءَنِى هُوَ بِنَفْسِهِ; see, under بِ, a remark on that preposition when used redundantly in a case of this kind.

he superintended, managed, or conducted, the affair in his own personوَلِىَ الأَمْرَ بِنَفْسِهِ

(K, in the article بشر, etc.)

he talked to himself; he soliloquizedحَدَّثَ نَفْسَهُ

(Msb, in the article بلو, etc.)

such a one killed himselfقَتَلَ فُلَانٌ نَفْسَهُ
he made his whole self fall into destructionأَهْلَكَ نَفْسَهُ

Aboo-Is-hák.

I alighted in the mountain itselfنَزَلْتُ بِنَفْسِ الجَبَلِ

And hence, from نَفْسُ الشَّىْءِ in the sense of ذَاتُهُ, the saying mentioned by Sb:

the mountain itself is facing meنَفْسُ الجَبَلِ مُقَابِلِى
in reality; in the thing itselfفِى نَفْسِ الأَمْرِ

As in the saying قَلَّلَهُ فِى نَفْسِهِ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ قَلِيلًا فِى نَفْسِ الأَمْرِ [He held it to be little in his mind though it was not little in reality].

The words of the Qur'ān, 5:116, تَعْلَمُ مَا فِى نَفْسِى وَلَا أَعْلَمُ مَا فِى نَفْسِكَ, mean: You know what is in myself, or in my essence, and I do not know what is in your own self, or in your essence. Or: You know what I conceal in my نفس [or mind], and I do not know what is in your own self, nor what You conceal of the things You know; so that the interpretation is, You know what I know, and I do not know what You know. Or نفس is here synonymous with عِنْد, and the meaning is تَعْلَمُ مَا عِنْدِى وَلَا أَعْلَمُ مَا عِنْدَكَ [that is, You know what is in my particular place of being, and I do not know what is in your particular place of being]; for the adverbiality here is that of مَكَانَة, not of مَكَان.

But the best explanation is that of IAmb, who says that نفس is here synonymous with غَيْب, so that the meaning is: You know غَيْبِى [my hidden things, or what is hidden from me, and I do not know your hidden things, or what You hide]; and the correctness of this is shown by the closing words of the verse, إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الغُيُوبِ [for You are he who well knows the hidden things]. العَيْبُ, which occurs later in the K as one of the meanings of النَّفْسُ, is a mistake for الغَيْبُ, the word IAmb used in explaining this verse.

1.2figurative · مجاز — inferredwho created you from one manاَلَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ

A person; a being; an individual; syn. شَخْصٌ: a man altogether, his soul and his body; a living being altogether.

In this sense of شخص the word is masculine. Or, according to Lh, the Arabs said رَأَيْتُ نَفْسًا وَاحِدَةً [I saw one person], making it feminine, and likewise رَأَيْتُ نَفْسَيْنِ ثِنْتَيْنِ [I saw two persons]; but they said رَأَيْتُ ثَلَاثَةَ أَنْفُسٍ [I saw three persons], and so with all the following numbers, making it masculine. He says it is allowable to make it masculine in the singular and dual and feminine in the plural; and all this is related on the authority of Ks.

Sb says they said ثَلَاثَةُ أَنْفُسٍ, making it masculine, because by نفس they mean “a man,” as their saying نَفْسٌ وَاحِدٌ also shows; but Yoo reports of Ru-beh that he said ثَلَاثُ أَنْفُسٍ, making نفس feminine, as you say ثَلَاثُ أَعْيُنٍ, meaning of men, and ثَلَاثَةُ أَشْخُصٍ, meaning of women.

In the Qur'ān, 4:1 etc., meaning Adam.

I saw not there any oneمَا رَأَيْتُ ثَمَّ نَفْسًا
1.3figurative · مجاز — inferredand when you enter houses, greet your brothersفَإِذَا دَخَلْتُمْ بُيُوتًا فَسَلِّمُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ

In the Qur'ān, 24:61; or: greet your partners in religion and kinship.

of their partners in faith and religionبِأَنْفُسِهِمْ

In verse 12 of the same chapter. (Ibn-'Arafeh.)

on this sense A brother; a partner in religion and kinship. Ibn-'Arafeh: a partner in faith and religion.

1.4figurative · مجازhis blood flowedسَالَتْ نَفْسُهُ

Blood, [or the life-blood; in this sense feminine.] Plural, [of paucity أَنْفُسٌ, and of multitude,] نُفُوسٌ.

So called [because the animal soul was believed by the Arabs, as by many others in ancient times (see Genesis 9:4, Aristotle, De Anima 1:2, and Virgil's Aeneid 9:349), to spread throughout the body by way of the arteries; or] because the نَفْس [in its proper sense, the soul] goes forth with it; or because it sustains the whole animal.

flowing bloodنَفْسٌ سَائِلَةٌ
he shed his bloodدَفَقَ نَفْسَهُ
1.5figurative · مجاز

The body.

1.6figurative · مجاز — inferredhe was sick in the stomachلَعِبَتْ نَفْسُهُ

Sometimes it seems to mean the stomach, as it does at the present day.

See غَثَتْ نَفْسُهُ in the article غثى, and مَذِرَتْ مَعِدَتُهُ and نَفْسُهُ in the article مذر.

1.7figurative · مجاز — inferred

The genitals; so in the present day; in the K, article حشو, applied to a woman's vulva.

1.8

[From the primary meaning several others are derived, of qualities of the rational and animal souls; and most of the meanings that follow are of this kind.]

1.9figurative · مجاز — inferred

Knowledge. [See above the explanation of the words quoted from the Qur'ān, chapter 5 verse 116.]

1.10figurative · مجاز — inferred

Pride; and self-magnification; syn. عِزَّةٌ.

1.11figurative · مجاز — inferred

Disdain, or scorn.

1.12figurative · مجاز — inferred

Purpose, or intention; or strong determination; syn. هِمَّةٌ.

1.13figurative · مجاز — inferred

Will, wish, or desire.

1.14

Copulation; see form 3 in the article رود.

1.15figurative · مجاز — inferred

Stomach, or appetite.

1.16figurative · مجازan evil, or envious, eye smote such a oneأَصَابَتْ فُلَانًا نَفْسٌ

An [evil or envious] eye that smites the person or thing it is cast at. Plural أَنْفُسٌ. [See form 1, last sense.]

So in a tradition, in which the نَمْلَة, the حُمَة and the نَفْس are said to be the only things for which a charm is allowable.

there were upon it seven [evil or envious] eyesكَانَ فِيهَا سَبْعَةُ أَنْفُسٍ

Mohammad said this of a piece of green fat that he threw away.

1.17figurative · مجاز — inferred

Strength of make, and hardiness, of a man; and closeness of texture, and strength, of a garment or piece of cloth.

2and God makes you fear his punishmentوَيُحَذِّرُكُم ٱللّٰهُ نَفْسَهُ

Punishment. So in the Qur'ān, 3:27 and 3:28, according to F; but others say the meaning is: Himself.

3give me enough tanning material for one tanning, or for two tanningsهَبْ لِى نفْسًا مِنْ دِبَاغٍ

A quantity of قَرَظ, and of other things with which hides are tanned, sufficient for one tanning; or enough for two tannings; or a handful of it. Plural أَنَفُسٌ.

Qur’ānic occurrences نَفْس 5 shown of 268
20:41
وَٱصْطَنَعْتُكَ لِنَفْسِى

"And I have prepared thee for Myself (for service)"..

74:38
كُلُّ نَفْسٍۭ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ رَهِينَةٌ

Every soul will be (held) in pledge for its deeds.

81:7
وَإِذَا ٱلنُّفُوسُ زُوِّجَتْ

When the souls are sorted out, (being joined, like with like);

81:14
عَلِمَتْ نَفْسٌ مَّآ أَحْضَرَتْ

(Then) shall each soul know what it has put forward.

91:7
وَنَفْسٍ وَمَا سَوَّىٰهَا

By the Soul, and the proportion and order given to it;

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
The soul; the spirit; the vital principle; syn. رُوحٌ : (S, M, A, Msb, K:) but between these two words is a difference [which must be fully explained hereafter, though ISd says, that it is not of the purpose of his book, the M, to explain it]: (M:) in this sense it is fem.: (Msb:) pl. [of pauc.] أَنْفُسٌ and [of mult.] نُفُوسٌ . (M, Msb.) You say, خَرَجَتْ نَفْسُهُ [His soul, or spirit, went forth]; (Aboo-Is-hák, S, M, Msb, K;) and so جَادَتْ نَفْسُهُ . (Msb.) And a poet says, not Aboo-Khirásh as in the S, but Hudheyfeh Ibn-Anas, (IB,) 1 i. e., [Sálim escaped when the soul was in the side of his mouth; but he escaped not save] with the scabbard of a sword and with a waist-wrapper. (S.) In the same sense the word is used in the saying. فِى نَفْسِ فُلَانٍ أَنْ يَفْعَلَ كَذَا وَكَذَا [but this seems rather to mean, It is in the mind of such a one to do so and so]. (Aboo-Is-hák, M.) Some of the lexicologists assert the نَفْس and the رُوح to be one and the same, except that the former is fem., and the latter [generally or often] masc.: others say, that the latter is that whereby is life; and the former, that whereby is intellect, or reason; so that when one sleeps, God takes away his نفس , but not his روح , which is not taken save at death: and the نَفْس is thus called because of its connexion with the نَفَس [or breath]. (IAmb.) Or every man has نَفْسَانِ [two souls]: (I'Ab, Zj:) نَفْسُ العَقْلِ [the soul of intellect, or reason, also called النَّفْسُ النَّاطِقَةُ (see رُوحٌ )], whereby one discriminates, [i. e., the mind,] (I'Ab,) or نَفْسُ التَّمْيِيزِ [the soul of discrimination], which quits him when he sleeps, so that he does not understand thereby, God taking it away: (Zj:) and نَفْسُ الرُّوحِ [the soul of the breath], whereby one lives, (I'Ab,) or نَفْسُ الحَيَاةِ [the soul of life], and when this quits him, the breath quits with it; whereas the sleeper breathes: and this is the difference between the taking away of the نفس of the sleeper in sleep and the taking away of the نفس of the living [at death.] (Zj.) Much has been said respecting the نَفْس and the رُوح ; whether they be one, or different: but the truth is, that there is a difference between them, since they are not always interchangeable: for it is said in the Kur, [xv. 29 and xxxviii. 72,] وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِنْ رُوحِى [And I have blown into him of my spirit.]; not مِنْ نَفْسِى : and [v. 116,] تَعْلَمُ مَا فِى نَفْسِى [to be explained hereafter]; not فِى رُوحِى , nor would this expression be well except from Jesus: and [lviii. 9,] وَيَقُولُونَ فِى أَنْفُسِهِمْ [And they say in their souls, or within themselves]: for which it would not be well to say فِى أَرْوَاحِهِمْ : and [xxxix. 57,] أَنْ تَقُولَ نَفْسٌ [That a soul shall say]; for which no Arab would say أَنْ تَقُولَ رُوحٌ : hence, the difference between them depends upon the considerations of relation: and this is indicated by a trad., in which it is said that God created Adam, and put into him a نَفْس and a رُوح ; and that from the latter was his quality of abstaining from unlawful and indecorous things, and his understanding, and his clemency, or forbearance, and his liberality, and his fidelity; and from the former, [which is also called النَّفْسُ الأَمَّارَةُ , q. v., in art. أمر ,] his appetence, and his unsteadiness, and his hastiness of disposition, and his anger: therefore one should not say that نَفْسٌ is the same as رُوحٌ absolutely, without restriction, nor رُوحٌ the same as نَفْس . (R.) The Arabs also make the discriminative نَفْس to be two; because it sometimes commands the man to do a thing or forbids him to do it; and this is on the occasion of setting about an affair that is disliked: therefore they make that which commands him to be a نفس , and that which forbids him to be as though it were another نفس : and hence the saying, mentioned by Z, فُلَانٌ يُؤَامِرُ نَفْسَيْهِ [Such a one consults his two souls, or minds]; said of a man when two opinions occur to him. (TA.) [ بِنَفْسِى فُلَانٌ is an elliptical phrase sometimes used, for بِنَفْسِى فُلَانٌ مَفْدِىٌّ , which see in art. فدى .] نَجَا سَالِمٌ والنَّفْسُ مِنْهُ بِشِدْقِهِ | وَلَمْ يَنْجُ إِلَّا جَفْنَ سَيْفٍ وَمِئْزَرَا A thing's self; (S, M, A, K, TA;) used as a corroborative; (S, TA;) its whole, (Aboo-Is-hák, M, TA,) and essential constituent: (Aboo-Is-hák, M, A, K, TA:) pl. as above, أَنْفُسٌ and نُفُوسٌ . (M.) You say, رَأَيْتُ فُلَانًا نَفْسَهُ I saw such a one himself, (S,) and جَآءَنِى بِنَفْسِهِ [or, more properly, حَآءَنِى هُوَ بِنَفْسِهِ (see, under the head of بِ , a remark on that preposition when used in a case of this kind, redundantly,)] He came to me himself. (S, K.) And وَلِىَ الأَمْرَ بِنَفْسِهِ [He superintended, managed, or conducted, the affair in his own person]. (K, in art. بشر , &c.) And حَدَّثَ نَفْسَهُ [He talked to himself; soliloquized]. (Msb, in art. بلو ; &c.) And قَتَلَ فُلَانٌ نَفْسَهُ [Such a one killed himself]: and أَهْلَكَ نَفْسَهُ made his whole self to fall into destruction. (Aboo-Is-hák, M.) And hence, (TA,) from نَفْسُ الشَّىْءِ signifying ذَاتُهُ , (M,) the saying mentioned by Sb, نَزَلْتُ بِنَفْسِ الجَبَلِ [I alighted in the mountain itself]: and نَفْسُ الجَبَلِ مُقَابِلِى [The mountain itself is facing me]. (M, TA.) [Hence also the phrase] فِى نَفْسِ الأَمْرِ [meaning in reality; in the thing itself]: as in the saying, قَلَّلَهُ فِى نَفْسِهِ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ قَلِيلًا فِى نَفْسِ الأَمْرِ [He held it to be little in his mind though it was not little in reality]. (Msb, art. قل .) The words of the Kur, [v. 116,] تَعْلَمُ مَا فِى نَفْسِى وَلَا أَعْلَمُ مَا فِى نَفْسِكَ mean Thou knowest what is in myself, or in my essence, and I know not what is in thyself, or in thine essence: (Bd, K:) or Thou knowest what I conceal (M, Bd, Jel) in my نفس [or mind], (Bd, Jel,) and I know not what is in thyself, or in thine essence, nor that whereof Thou hast the knowledge, (M.) or what Thou concealest of the things which Thou knowest; (Bd, Jel;) so that the interpretation is, Thou knowest what I know, and I know not what Thou knowest: (M:) or نفس is here syn. with عِنْد ; and the meaning is, تَعْلَمُ مَا عِنْدِى وَلَا أَعْلَمُ مَا عِنْدَكَ ; (K, * TA;) [i. e., Thou knowest what is in my particular place of being, and I know not what is in thy particular place of being; for] the adverbiality in this instance is that of مَكَانَة , not of مَكَان : (TA:) but the best explanation is that of IAmb, who says that نفس is here syn. with غَيْب ; so that the meaning is, Thou knowest غَيْبِى [my hidden things, or what is hidden from me, and I know not thy hidden things, or what Thou hidest]; and the correctness of this is testified by the concluding words of the verse, إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الغُيُوبِ [for Thou art he who well knoweth the hidden things]: (TA:) [and here it must be remarked that] العَيْبُ , which occurs afterwards in the K as one of the significations of النَّفْسُ , is a mistake for الغَيْبُ , the word used by IAmb in explaining the above verse. (TA.) A person; a being; an individual; syn. شَخْصٌ ; (Msb;) a man, (Sb, S, M, TA,) altogether, his soul and his body; (TA;) a living being, altogether. (Mgh, Msb.) In this sense of شخص it is masc.: (Msb:) or, accord to Lh, the Arabs said, رَأَيْتُ نَفْسًا وَاحِدَةً [I saw one person], making it fem.; and in like manner, رَأَيْتُ نَفْسَيْنِ ثِنْتَيْنِ [I saw two persons]; but they said, رَأَيْتُ ثَلَاثَةَ أَنْفُسٍ [I saw three persons], and so all the succeeding numbers, making it masc.: but, he says, it is allowable to make it masc. in the sing. and dual., and fem. in the pl.: and all this, he says, is related on the authority of Ks: (M:) Sb says, (M.) they said ثَلَاثَةُ أَنْفُسٍ , (S, M,) making it masc., (S,) because they mean by نفس “ a man, ” (S, M,) as is shown also by their saying نَفْسٌ وَاحِدٌ : (M:) but Yoo asserts of Ru-beh, that he said ثَلَاثُ أَنْفُسٍ , making نفس fem., like as you say ثَلَاثُ أَعْيُنٍ , meaning, of men; and ثَلَاثَةُ أَشْخُصٍ , meaning, of women: and it is said in the Kur, [iv. l, &c.,] اَلَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ [who created you from one man], meaning, Adam. (M.) You also say, مَا رَأَيْتُ ثَمَّ نَفْسًا I saw not there any one. (TA.) A brother: (IKh, IB:) a copartner in religion and relationship: (Bd, xxiv. 61:) a copartner in faith and religion. (Ibn-'Arafeh.) It is said in the Kur, [xxiv. 61,] فَإِذَا دَخَلْتُمْ بُيُوتًا فَسَلِّمُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ And when ye enter houses, salute ye your brethren: (IB:) or your copartners in religion and relationship. (Bd.) And in verse 12 of the same chapter. بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ means Of their copartners in faith and religion. (Ibn-'Arafeh.) Blood: (S, M, A, Mgh, Msb, K:) [or the life-blood: in this sense, fem.:] pl. [of pauc. أَنْفُسٌ and of mult.] نُفُوسٌ : (IB:) so called [because the animal soul was believed by the Arabs, as it was by many others in ancient times, (see Gen. ix. 4, and Aristotle, De Anim. i. 2, and Virgil's Æn. ix. 349.) to diffuse itself throughout the body by means of the arteries: or] because the نَفْس [in its proper sense, i. e. the soul,] goes forth with it: (TA:) or because it sustains the whole animal. (Mgh, Msb.) You say, سَالَتْ نَفْسُهُ [His blood flowed]. (S.) And نَفْسٌ سَائِلَةٌ [Flowing blood]. (S, A, Mgh.) And دَفَقَ نَفْسَهُ He shed his blood. (A, TA.) The body. (S, A, K.) [Sometimes it seems to signify The stomach. So in the present day. You say, لَعِبَتْ نَفْسُهُ , meaning He was sick in the stomach. See غَثَتْ نَفْسُهُ , in art. غثى ; and مَذِرَتْ مَعِدَتُهُ and نَفْسُهُ , in art. مذر .] [The pudendum: so in the present day: in the K, art. حشو , applied to a woman's vulva.] [From the primary signification are derived several others, of attributes of the rational and animal souls; and such are most of the signification here following.] Knowledge. (A.) [See, above, an explanation of the words cited from ch. v. verse 116 of the Kur-án.] Pride: (A, K, TA:) and self-magnification; syn. عِزَّةٌ . (A, K.) Disdain, or scorn. (A, K.) Purpose, or intention: or strong determination: syn. هِمَّةٌ . (A, K.) Will, wish, or desire. (A, K.) [Copulation: see 3, art رود .] [ Stomach, or appetite.] An [evil or envious] eye, (S, M, A, K, TA,) that smites the person or thing at which it is cast: pl. أَنْفُسٌ . (TA.) [See 1, last signification.] So in a trad., in which it is said, that the نَمْلَة and the حُمَة and the نَفْس are the only things for which a charm is allowable. (TA.) You say, أَصَابَتْ فُلَانًا نَفْسٌ [An evil or envious eye smote such a one]. (S.) And Mohammad said, of a piece of green fat that he threw away, كَانَ فِيهَا سَبْعَةُ أَنْفُسٍ , meaning, There were upon it seven [evil or envious] eyes. (TA.) Strength of make, and hardiness, of a man: and closeness of texture, and strength, of a garment or piece of cloth. (M.) Punishment. (A, K.) Ex. وَيُحَذِّرُكُم ٱللّٰهُ نَفْسَهُ , (K,) in the Kur, [iii. 27 and 28, meaning, And God maketh you to fear his punishment]; accord. to F; but others say that the meaning is, Himself. (TA.) A quantity (S, M, K,) of قَرَظ , and of other things, with which hides are tanned, (S, K,) sufficient for one tanning: (S, M, K:) or enough for two tannings: (TA:) or a handful thereof: (M:) pl. أَنَفُسٌ . (M.) You say, هَبْ لِى نفْسًا مِنْ دِبَاغٍ [Give thou to me a quantity of material for tanning sufficient for one tanning, or for two tannings, &c.]. (S.)
Nounنَفَسٌ15 senses · 3 main

Core sense — breath; a gentle air; a gulp, or draught, of drinkgenerated

1

Breath; what is drawn in through the air-passages in the nose, [or by the mouth,] into the inside and then emitted; what comes forth from a living being in the act of تَنَفُّس; or the passing out of wind from the nose and the mouth. Plural أَنْفَاسٌ.

1.1the breath of the windنَفَسُ الرِّيحِ
the sweet breath, or odour, of the meadow or the gardenنَفَسُ الرَّوْصَةِ

on this sense A gentle air; plural as above.

1.2the blast of the last hour; the end of timeنَفَسَ السَّاعَةِ

Apparently from the sense above.

1.3figurative · مجاز — inferred

Hence also speech; and kind speech; so in the present day. See an example under أَمْلَحَ.

1.4figurative · مجاز — inferred

And voice, or a sweet voice, in singing; so in the present day.

1.5figurative · مجازput your mouth into the vessel and drink a gulp, or two gulpsإِكْرَعْ فِى الإِتَآءِ نَفَسًا أَوْ نَفَسَيْنِ

A gulp, or as much as is swallowed at once in drinking; but this needs consideration, for in one نَفَس a man takes a number of gulps, more or fewer according to the length or shortness of his breath, so that we sometimes see a man drink the contents of a large vessel in one نَفَس at a number of gulps. [So it means sometimes, if not always, a draught, or as much as is swallowed without taking breath.] Plural as above.

And do not go beyond that.

I drank a gulp, and gulps; or a draught, and draughtsشَربْتُ نَفَسًا وَأَنْفَاسًا
such a one drank the whole contents of the vessel at one gulp, or at one draughtفُلَانٌ شَرِبَ الإِنَآءَ كُلَّهُ عَلَى نَفَسٍ وَاحِدٍ
1.6figurative · مجازhe drank with one resting between draughtsشَرِبَ بِنَفَسٍ وَاحِدٍ
he drank with three restings between draughtsشَربَ بِثَلَاثَةِ أَنْفَاسٍ
beverage in which there is ampleness, and which satisfies thirstشَرَابٌ ذُو نَفَسِ

[So that one pauses while drinking it, to take breath.]

beverage of disagreeable taste, changed in taste and odourشَرَابٌ غَيْرُ ذِى نَفَسٍ

In drinking it one does not take breath once he has tasted it, but takes a first draught, as much as will keep in the remains of life, and does not return to it.

on this sense Every resting between two draughts. [Plural as above.]

1.7figurative · مجاز — inferredsatisfaction, or the state of being satisfied, with drinkنَفَسٌ

Hence it is said that this is the meaning; syn. دِىَّ.

1.8figurative · مجازin the water there is plenty, and more than enough, for me and for youإِنّ فِى المَآءِ نَفَسًا لِى وَلَكَ

Hence also, plenty, and redundance.

1.9figurative · مجازbetween the two parties is a wide spaceبَيْنَ الفَر يقَيْن نَفَسٌ
between me and him is a distanceبَيْنِى وَبَيْنَهٌ نَفَسٌ

on this sense A wide space; a distance.

1.10figurative · مجازthere is ample scope for action for you in thisلَك فِى هٰذَا نَفَسٌ

Ample scope for action, and a state in which there is ample scope for action, in an affair; syn. سعةٌ and فُسْحَةٌ.

you are in a state in which there is ample scope for action in your affairأَنْتَ فِى نَفِس مِنْ أَمْرِكَ
work while you are in a state of ample scope in your affair, before extreme old age, diseases, and calamitiesإِعْملْ وَأَنْتَ فِى نَفَسٍ مِنْ أَمْرِكَ

The word used here for that state is فِى فُسْحَةٍ وَسَعَة.

See also نُفْسَةٌ.

1.11figurative · مجازadd for me length in my term of lifeزِدْنى نَفَسًا فِى أَجَلِى

Or: lengthen my term of life.

in his life is lengthفِى عُمُرِهِ مُتَنَفَّسٌ

See form 5.

on this sense Length.

1.12figurative · مجاز — inferred

The plural, in the accusative case, also means time after time. So in the saying of the poet:

shāhid
عَيْنَىَّ جُودَا عَبْرَةً أَنْفَاسَا

[O my two eyes, pour forth a flow of tears time after time].

2figurative · مجازdo not revile the wind, for by it the Compassionate removes grief, sorrow, or anxietyلَا تَسبُوُّا الرِّيحَ فَإِنَّهَا مِنْ نَفَسِ الرَّحْمٰنِ

نَفَسٌ is also a substantive put in the place of the proper maṣdar of نَفَّسَ, and is so used in the two following sayings of Mohammad.

I perceive your Lord's removal of grief from the direction of El-Yemenأَجِدُ نَفَسَ رَبَِّكُمْ مِنْ قِبَلِ اليَمَنِ

By it he also raises the clouds, and scatters the rain, and dispels dearth, or drought.

Meaning, through the help and hospitality of the people of El-Medeeneh, who were of El-Yemen; that is, the Ansár, who were of [the tribe of] El-Azd, from El-Yemen.

Some say it is a metaphor, from نَفَسُ الهَوَآءِ, which the act of breathing draws back into the inside, so that its heat is cooled and moderated; or from نَفَسُ الرِّيِح, which one smells, and so refreshes himself; or from نَفَسُ الرَّوْضَةِ.

there is no removal, or clearing away, of grief for meمَا لِى نَفَسٌ
3figurative · مجاز — inferred

It is also used as an adjective meaning long; applied to speech, and to writing, a book, or a letter.

Show Lane's original text
[Breath;] what is drawn in by the airpassages in the nose, [or by the mouth,] to the inside, and emitted, (Msb;) what comes forth from a living being in the act of تَنَفُّس . (Mgh:) or the exit of wind from the nose and the mouth: (M:) pl. أَنْفَاسٌ . (S, M, A. Mgh, Msb, K.) A gentle air: pl. as above. (M, Msb.) You say also, نَفَسُ الرِّيحِ [The breath of the wind]: and نَفَسُ الرَّوْصَةِ the sweet [breath or] odour [of the meadow, or of the garden, &c.]. (TA.) [Hence, app., its application in the phrase] نَفَسَ السَّاعَةِ [The blast of the last hour; meaning,] the end of time. (Kr, M.) [Hence also, Speech: and kind speech: (see an ex. voce أَمْلَحَ :) so in the present day.] [And Voice, or a sweet voice, in singing: so in the present day.] A gulp. or as much as is swallowed at once in drinking: (S, L, K:) but this requires consideration; for in one نَفَس a man takes a number of gulps, more or less according to the length or shortness of his breath, so that we [sometimes] see a man drink [the contents of] a large vessel in one نَفَس , at a number of gulps: (L:) [therefore it signifies sometimes, if not always, a draught, or as much as is swallowed without taking breath:] pl. as above. (S.) You say, إِكْرَعْ فِى الإِتَآءِ نَفَسًا أَوْ نَفَسَيْنِ [Put thou thy mouth into the vessel and drink] a gulp, or two gulps: [or a draught, or two draughts:] and exceed not that. (S; And شَربْتُ نَفَسًا وَأَنْفَاسًا [I drank a gulp, and gulps: or a draught, and draughts]. (A.) And فُلَانٌ شَرِبَ الإِنَآءَ كُلَّهُ عَلَى نَفَسٍ وَاحِدٍ [Such a one drank the whole contents of the vessel at one gulp or at one draught]. (L.) Every resting between two draughts: (M, TA:) [pl. as above.] You say, شَرِبَ بِنَفَسٍ وَاحِدٍ [He drank with one resting between draughts]. (A.) And شَربَ بِثَلَاثَةِ أَنْفَاسٍ [He drank with three restings between draughts]. (A. K.) [And hence,] شَرَابٌ ذُو نَفَسِ Beverage in which is ampleness, [so that one pauses while drinking it, to take breath,] and which satisfies thirst. (IAar, K.) And شَرَابٌ غَيْرُ ذِى نَفَسٍ Beverage of disagreeable taste, (A, K, *) changed in taste and odour, (K,) in drinking which one does not take breath (A, K) when he has tasted it; (K;) taking a first draught, as much as will keep in the remains of life, and not returning to it. (TA.) [And hence it is said that] نَفَسٌ signifies Satisfaction, or the state of being satisfied, with drink; syn. دِىَّ . (IAar, K.) [Hence also.] Plenty, and redundance. So in the saying إِنّ فِى المَآءِ نَفَسًا لِى وَلَكَ [Verily in the water is plenty, and redundance, for me and for thee]. (Lh, M.) A wide space: (TA:) a distance (A.) You say, بَيْنَ الفَر يقَيْن نَفَسٌ Between the two parties is a wide space. (TA.) And بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَهٌ نَفَسٌ Between me and him is a distance. (A.) Ample scope for action &c.; and a state in which is ample scope for action &c., syn. سعةٌ , (S, M, A, Mgh, K,) and فُسْحَةٌ , (A, K,) in an affair. (S, M, A, K.) You say, لَك فِى هٰذَا نَفَسٌ [There is ample scope for action &c. for thee in this. (Mgh.) And أَنْتَ فِى نَفِس مِنْ أَمْرِكَ [Thou art in a state in which is ample scope for action &c. with respect to thine affair. (S, M.) And إِعْملْ وَأَنْتَ فِى نَفَسٍ مِنْ أَمْرِكَ Work thou while thou art in a state in which is ample scope for action &c. ( فِى فُسْحَةٍ وَسَعَة ) with respect to thine affair, before extreme old age, and diseases, and calamities. (TA.) See also نُفْسَةٌ . Length. (M.) So in the saying زِدْنى نَفَسًا فِى أَجَلِى [Add thou to me length in my term of life]: (M:) or lengthen thou my term of life. (TA.) You say also, فِى عُمُرِهِ مُتَنَفَّسٌ [In his life is length: see 5]. (A, TA.) The pl., in the accus. case, also signifies Time after time. So in the saying of the poet, 1 [O my two eyes, pour forth a flow of tears time after time]. (S.) عَيْنَىَّ جُودَا عَبْرَةً أَنْفَاسَا نَفَسٌ is also a subst. put in the place of the proper inf. n. of نَفَّسَ ; and is so used in the two following sayings, (K, TA,) of Mohammad. (TA.) لَا تَسبُوُّا الرِّيحَ فَإِنَّهَا مِنْ نَفَسِ الرَّحْمٰنِ , i. e. [Revile not ye the wind, for] it is a means whereby the Compassionate removes grief, or sorrow, or anxiety, (K, TA,) and raises the clouds, (TA,) and scatters the rain, and dispels dearth, or drought. (K, TA.) And أَجِدُ نَفَسَ رَبَِّكُمْ مِنْ قِبَلِ اليَمَنِ I perceive your Lord's removal of grief, &c., from the direction of El-Yemen: meaning, through the aid and hospitality of the people of El-Medeeneh, who were of El-Yemen; (K, TA;) i. e., of the Ansár, who were of [the tribe of] El-Azd, from ElYemen. (TA.) It is [said by some to be] a metaphor, from نَفَسُ الهَوَآءِ , which the act of breathing draws back into the inside, so that its heat becomes cooled and moderated: or from نَفَسُ الرِّيِح , which one scents, so that thereby he refreshes himself: or from نَفَسُ الرَّوْضَةِ . (TA.) You also say, مَا لِى نَفَسٌ , meaning, There is not for me any removal, or clearing away, of grief. (A.) It is also used as an epithet, signifying Long; (AZ, K;) applied to speech, (K,) and to writing, or book, or letter. (AZ, K.)
Nounنُفْسَةٌ1 sense

Core sense — a delay; ample spacegenerated

1figurative · مجاز — inferredyou shall have, in this affair, a delay, and ample spaceلَكَ فِى هٰذَا الأَمْرِ نُفْسَةٌ

With damm; [in a copy of the S, نَفْسَةٌ.] Delay, syn. مَهْلَةٌ; and ample space, syn. مُتَّسَعٌ.

See also نَفَسٌ.

Show Lane's original text
, (S, Mgh, K,) with damm, (K,) [in a copy of the S, نَفْسَةٌ ,] Delay; syn. مَهْلَةٌ ; (S, Mgh, K;) and ample space, syn. مُتَّسَعٌ . (TA.) Ex. لَكَ فِى هٰذَا الأَمْرِ نُفْسَةٌ [Thou shalt have, in this affair, a delay, and ample space]. (S, Mgh, * TA.) See also نَفَسٌ .
Nounنَفْسِىٌ1 sense

Core sense — relating to the soul; vital; sensualgenerated

1

Relating to the نَفْس, or soul, etc.; vital; and sensual; as also نَفْسَانِىٌّ.

Show Lane's original text
[ Relating to the نَفْس , or soul, &c.: vital: and sensual; as also نَفْسَانِىٌّ .]
Nounنُفَسَآءُ1 sense

Core sense — a woman in the state following childbirth; bringing forth; menstruatinggenerated

1figurative · مجاز

Also نَفَسَآءُ and نَفْسَآءُ: a woman in the state following childbirth; or bringing forth; and pregnant; and menstruating. نَافِسٌ means the same, and so does مَنْفُوسَةٌ [see نُفِسَتْ].

Dual نُفَسَاوَانِ, the feminine ء being changed into و, as in عُشَرَاوَانِ. Plural نِفَاسٌ, as عِشَارٌ is plural of عُشَرَآءُ, the only other instance of the kind; and نُفَاسٌ, which is also the only instance of its kind except عُشَارٌ, نُفَّاسٌ, نُفَّسٌ, نُفَسٌ, نُفُسٌ, نُفْسٌ, نُفَسَاوَاتٌ, and [by analogy, from نَافِسٌ] نَوَافِسُ.

Show Lane's original text
(Th, S, M, Mgh, Msb, K, &c.) and نَفَسَآءُ and نَفْسَآءُ (M, K) A woman in the state following childbirth: (S, M, * Mgh, * Msb, * K:) or bringing forth: and pregnant: and menstruating: (Th, M:) and نَافِسٌ signifies the same; (Msb;) and so مَنْفُوسَةٌ : (A:) [see نُفِسَتْ :] dual نُفَسَاوَانِ ; the fem. ء being changed into و as in عُشَرَاوَانِ : (S:) pl. نِفَاسٌ , (S, M, Mgh, Msb, K,) like as عِشَارٌ is pl. of عُشَرَآءُ , (S, Msb, K,) the only other instance of the kind, (S, K,) and نُفَاسٌ , (M, K,) which is also the only instance of the kind except عُشَارٌ , (K,) and نُفَّاسٌ , and نُفَّسٌ and نُفَسٌ (M) and نُفُسٌ (M, K) and نُفْسٌ (K) and نُفَسَاوَاتٌ (S, M, K) and [accord. to analogy, of نَافِسٌ ,] نَوَافِسُ . (K.)
Nounنَفْسَانٌ1 sense

Core sense — a woman in the state following childbirthgenerated

1

Or نَفْسَانِىٌّ: see نَفُوسٌ.

Show Lane's original text
, or نَفْسَانِىٌّ : see نَفُوسٌ .
Nounنَفْسَانِىٌّ2 senses · 1 main

Core sense — relating to the soul; vital; sensualgenerated

1

See نَفْسِىٌّ.

1.1

And see نَفُوسٌ.

Show Lane's original text
: see نَفْسِىٌّ : and نَفُوسٌ .
Nounنِفَاسٌ4 senses · 1 main

Core sense — childbirth; the blood that comes forth just after the childgenerated

1figurative · مجاز

Childbirth; from نَفْسٌ, meaning “blood.”

See نُفِسَتْ.

1.1

And the state of impurity following childbirth. See form 5, in the article عل.

1.2figurative · مجاز

Also the blood that comes forth immediately after the child; a maṣdar used as a substantive.

1.3

A poet says — Ows Ibn-Hajar, in the article طرق

shāhid
لَنَا صَرْخَةٌ ثُمَّ إِسْكَاتَةٌكَمَا طَرَّقَتْ بِنِفَاسٍ بِكِرْ

[We utter a cry; then keep a short silence; like one that has never yet brought forth, meeting resistance and difficulty in giving birth to a child, or young one]; meaning بِوَلَدٍ.

Show Lane's original text
Childbirth (S, K) from نَفْسٌ signifying “ blood. ” (Msb, TA.) See نُفِسَتْ . [And The state of impurity consequent upon childbirth. See 5, in art. عل .] Also, The blood that comes forth immediately after the child: an inf. n. used as a subst. (Mgh.) A poet says, (namely, Ows Ibn-Hajar, O, in art. طرق ,) 1 [We utter a cry; then keep a short silence; like as when one that has never yet brought forth experiences resistance and difficulty in giving birth to a child, or young one]; meaning, بِوَلَدٍ . (S.) لَنَا صَرْخَةٌ ثُمَّ إِسْكَاتَةٌ | كَمَا طَرَّقَتْ بِنِفَاسٍ بِكِرْ
Nounنَفُوسٌ1 sense

Core sense — an envious man, one who looks with an evil eye at others' propertygenerated

1figurative · مجاز

An envious man; one who looks with an evil eye, meaning harm, at the property of others; as also نَفْسَانٌ, or نَفْسَانِىٌّ.

Show Lane's original text
An envious man: (M, TA:) one who looks with an evil eye, with injurious intent, at the property of others: (M, A, * TA:) as also نَفْسَانٌ , (TA,) or نَفْسَانِىٌّ . (A.)
Nounنَفِيسٌ2 senses · 1 main

Core sense — high in estimation, excellent, precious; much propertygenerated

1a thing that is desiredأَمْرٌ مَنْفُوسٌ فِيهِ

A thing high in estimation, of high account, excellent; highly prized, precious, valuable, and so desired with emulation, or in much request; good, or excellent, in its kind. نَافِسٌ means the same, and so do مُنْفِسٌ and مَنْفُوسٌ.

It has this meaning when applied to property as well as to other things, as also مَنْفِسٌ; and, so applied, of which one is avaricious, or tenacious. Or مُنْفِسٌ, so applied, means abundant, much, as also مُنْفَسٌ.

نَافِسٌ: a thing of high account or estimation, and an object of desire; this last is applied in the same way to a man, as also نَفِيسٌ; and the plural of either is نِفَاسٌ.

a thing emulously desired, or in much requestشَىْءٌ مُتَنَافَسٌ فِيهِ
1.1such a one has much propertyلِفُلَانٍ مُنْفِسٌ

Also, as an adjective in which the quality of a substantive predominates: much property; and so مُنْفِسٌ.

Also نَفِيسٌ, in the same sense.

much property does not make me rejoice in this affairمَا يَسُرُّنِى بِهٰذَا الأَمْرِ مَنْفِسٌ

Also نَفِيسٌ.

Show Lane's original text
A thing high in estimation; of high account; excellent; (Lh, M, Msb, TA;) [highly prized; precious; valuable; and therefore (TA) desired with emulation, or in much request; (S, K, TA;) good, goodly, or excellent, in its kind; (TA;) and نَافِسٌ signifies the same, (M,) and so does مُنْفِسٌ , (Lh, M, A, Msb, K,) and مَنْفُوسٌ : (K:) it signifies thus when applied to property, as well as other things; as also مَنْفِسٌ : (Lh, M:) and, when so applied, of which one is avaricious, or tenacious: (M:) or مُنْفِسٌ , so applied, abundant; much; (K;) as also مُنْفَسٌ : (Fr, K:) and نَافِسٌ , a thing of high account or estimation, and an object of desire: (TA:) this last is also applied, in like manner, to a man; as also نَفِيسٌ : and the pl. [of either] is نِفَاسٌ (M, TA) You also say, أَمْرٌ مَنْفُوسٌ فِيهِ , meaning, A thing that is desired. (M.) And شَىْءٌ مُتَنَافَسٌ فِيهِ A thing emulously desired, or in much request. (A.) Also, [as an epithet in which the quality of a subst. predominates,] Much property; (S, A, K;) and so مُنْفِسٌ . (S.) You say, لِفُلَانٍ مُنْفِسٌ and نَفِيسٌ Such a one has much property. (S.) And مَا يَسُرُّنِى بِهٰذَا الأَمْرِ مَنْفِسٌ and نَفِيسٌ [Much property does not rejoice me with this affair]. (S.)
Nounنَافِسٌ4 senses

Core sense — smiting with an evil, or envious, eye; highly prized, preciousgenerated

1

See نَفِيسٌ, in three places.

2

See also نُفَسَآءُ.

3figurative · مجاز

Smiting with an evil, or envious, eye.

4

The fifth of the arrows used in the game called المَيْسِر; it has five notches, and one wins five portions with it if it is successful and loses five portions if it is not; or, as some say, it is the fourth.

Show Lane's original text
: see نَفِيسٌ , in three places. See also نُفَسَآءُ . Smiting with an evil, or envious, eye. (S, M, K.) The fifth of the arrows used in the game called المَيْسِر ; (S, M, K;) which has five notches; and for which one wins five portions if it be successful, and loses five portions if it be unsuccessful: (Lh, M:) or, as some say, the fourth. (S.)
Nounهٰذَا أَنْفَسُ مَالِى2 senses

Core sense — the most loved and most highly esteemed of my propertygenerated

1

This is the most loved and most highly esteemed of my property.

2figurative · مجازmay God let you attain the longest, or most ample, of livesبَلَّغَكَ ٱللّٰهُ أَنْفَسَ الأَعْمَارِ

See form 5.

your house is more ample, or spacious, than my houseدَارُكَ أَنْفَسُ مِنْ دَارِى

The like is said of two places, and of two lands.

this garment, or piece of cloth, is wider and longer and more excellent than thisهٰذَا التَّوْبُ أَنْفَسُ مِنْ هٰذَا
a garment, or piece of cloth, the longer and wider of the twoثَوْبٌ أَنْفَسُ الثَّوْبَيْنِ
Show Lane's original text
This is the most loved and highly esteemed of my property. (S, TA.) بَلَّغَكَ ٱللّٰهُ أَنْفَسَ الأَعْمَارِ [May God cause thee to attain to the most protracted, or most ample, of lives: see 5]. (A, TA.) And دَارُكَ أَنْفَسُ مِنْ دَارِى Thy house is more ample, or spacious, than my house: (M:) and the like is said of two places: (M:) and of two lands. (A.) And هٰذَا التَّوْبُ أَنْفَسُ مِنْ هٰذَا This garment, or piece of cloth, is wider and longer and more excellent than this. (M.) And ثَوْبٌ أَنْفَسُ الثَّوْبَيْنِ A garment, or piece of cloth, the longer and wider of the two garments, or pieces of cloth. (A.)
Nounمُنْفَسٌ1 sense

Core sense — highly prized, precious, held in high estimationgenerated

1

See نَفِيسٌ, for the latter, throughout.

Show Lane's original text
: see نَفِيسٌ ; for the latter, throughout.
Nounمُنْفِسٌ1 sense

Core sense — highly prized, precious; much propertygenerated

1

See نَفِيسٌ, for the latter, throughout.

Show Lane's original text
: see نَفِيسٌ ; for the latter, throughout.
Nounمَنْفُوسٌ4 senses · 3 main

Core sense — brought forth, born; smitten with an evil, or envious, eyegenerated

1

See نَفِيسٌ, in two places.

2figurative · مجازthere is no soul born but its place in Paradise or Hell has been writtenمَا مِنْ نَفْسٍ مَنْفُوسَةٍ إِلَّا وَقَذْ كُتِبَ مَكَانُهَا مِنَ الجَنَّةِ أَوِ النَّارِ

So it is said in a tradition.

Brought forth; born.

2.1

مَنْفُوسَةٌ, applied to a woman: see نُفَسَآءُ.

3figurative · مجاز

Smitten with an evil, or envious, eye.

Show Lane's original text
: see نَفِيسٌ , in two places. Brought forth; born. (S, M, A, Msb, K.) It is said in a trad., مَا مِنْ نَفْسٍ مَنْفُوسَةٍ إِلَّا وَقَذْ كُتِبَ مَكَانُهَا مِنَ الجَنَّةِ أَوِ النَّارِ [There is not any soul born but its place in Paradise or Hell has been written]. (S.) مَنْفُوسَةٌ applied to a woman: see نُفَسَآءُ . Smitten with an evil, or envious, eye. (M.)
Nounمُتَنَفَّسٌ3 senses · 1 main

Core sense — a place through which the breath passesgenerated

1

A place of passage of the breath.

1.1

فى عُمُرِهِ مُتَنَفَّسٌ: see نَفَسٌ.

1.2

See also سَحَرٌ.

Show Lane's original text
[ A place of passage of the breath.] فى عُمُرِهِ مُتَنَفَّسٌ : see نَفَسٌ . See also سَحَرٌ .
Nounمُتَنَفِّسٌ3 senses · 1 main

Core sense — breathing, having breath, having a soulgenerated

1

Breathing; having breath; or having a soul; an adjective applied to everything that has lungs.

1.1figurative · مجازa depressed expanse of land extending farغَائِطٌ مُتَنَفِّسٌ
1.2figurative · مجازa nose whose bone is wide and depressed, or spreading upon the faceأَنْفٌ مُتَنَفِّسٌ

Syn. أَفْطَسُ.

Show Lane's original text
[Breathing;] having breath: (TA:) or having a soul: (so in a copy of the M:) an epithet applied to everything having lungs. (S, TA.) غَائِطٌ مُتَنَفِّسٌ A depressed expanse of land extending far. (A, TA.) أَنْفٌ مُتَنَفِّسٌ A nose of which the bone is wide and depressed; or depressed and expanded; or a nose spreading upon the face: syn. أَفْطَسُ . (A, TA.)
Nounشَىْءٌ مُتَنَافَسٌ فِيهِ1 sense

Core sense — a thing emulously desired, or in much requestgenerated

1

See نَفِيسٌ.

Show Lane's original text
: see نَفِيسٌ .