وسط

Form 1 · Form 2 · Form 5 · 17 entries · Qur'ānic frequency 5

Form 1وَسَطَ القَوْمَ2 senses · 1 main

maṣdarوَسْطٌ وَسَاطَةٌ سِطَةٌmuḍāriʿيَسِطُ يَوْسُطُ

Core sense — he was in the middle of the people; he held the best rank among themgenerated

1.1he was, or became, or sat, in the middle of the place—وَسَطَ المَكَانَ

[and وُسُوطٌ (as shown below)] and سِطَةٌ.

He sat, or was, or became, in the middle, or midst, of the people, or company of men, or among them; the same as توسّطهُمْ or توسّط بَيْنَهُمْ.

he was, or became, in the middle of the thing—وَسَطَ الشَّىْءَ

he was, or became, in the middle of the thing—وسّطهُ

he was, or became, in the middle of the thing—توسّطهُ

the sun's being, or becoming, in the middle of the sky—وُسُوطُ الشَّمْسِ

Equivalent to تَوَسُّطُهَا السَّمَآءَ.

1.1.1he, or it, was in the best part of the thing, furthest from the two extremes—وَسَطَ الشَّىْءَ

he took up his abode in, or among, the best, or most generous, of them—وَسَطَهُ

the man held a middle place among his people in respect of truth and equity—وَسَطَ الرَّجُلُ قَوْمَهُ

Meaning the best place, or one of the best places.

Also فِى قَوْمِهِ.

[he held a middle, or good, or the best, rank among his people in grounds of pretension to respect]—وَسَطَ قَوْمَهُ فِى الحَسَبِ

[he held a middle, or good, or the best, rank in his grounds of pretension to respect]—وَسُطَ فِى حَسَبِهِ

وَسَطَ has the same meaning, and so does وسّط, maṣdar تَوْسِيطٌ.

See وَسَطٌ below.

Qur’ānic occurrences Form 1

100:5

فَوَسَطْنَ بِهِۦ جَمْعًا

And penetrate forthwith into the midst (of the foe) en masse;-

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

, aor. يَسِطُ , inf. n. وَسْطٌ (S, Msb, K) [and وُسُوطٌ (as shown below)] and سِطَةٌ , (S, K,) He sat, [or was, or became,] in the middle, or midst, of the people, or company of men; (K;) or among them: (TA;) i. q. توسّطهُمْ ; (S, K;) or توسّط بَيْنَهُمْ : (Msb:) and in like manner, وَسَطَ المَكَانَ [he was, or became, or sat, in the middle, or midst, of the place]: (Msb:) and وَسَطَ الشَّىْءَ , and وسّطهُ , and توسّطهُ , he was, or became, in the middle, or midst, of the thing: and [in like manner] وُسُوطُ الشَّمْسِ signifies تَوَسُّطُهَا السَّمَآءَ [The sun's being, or becoming, in the middle, or midst, of the sky]. (M.) وَسَطَ الشَّىْءَ also signifies He, or it, was, or became, in the best part of the thing, most remote from the two extremes. (TA.) And وَسَطَهُ He alighted, or took up his abode, in, or among, the best, or most generous, thereof. (M.) And وَسَطَ الرَّجُلُ قَوْمَهُ , and فِى قَوْمِهِ , inf. n. وَسَاطَةٌ , The man occupied, or held, a middle place, [meaning the best place, or one of the best places,] among his people, in respect of truth and equity. (Msb.) And وَسَطَ قَوْمَهُ فِى الحَسَبِ , aor. يَسِطُ , inf. n. سِطَةٌ , [He held a middle, or good, or the best, rank among his people in regard of grounds of pretension to respect.] (M.) And وَسُطَ فِى حَسَبِهِ , [aor. يَوْسُطُ ,] inf. n. وَسَاطَةٌ and سِطَةٌ , [He held a middle, or good, or the best, rank in regard of his grounds of pretension to respect;] (M, TA;) and وَسَطَ signifies the same; (M;) and so does وسّط , (M, TA,) inf. n. تَوْسِيطٌ . (TA.) [See وَسَطٌ , below.]

Form 2وسّطهُ4 senses · 1 main

maṣdarتَوْسِيطٌ

Core sense — he put it in the middle; he cut it in two halvesgenerated

2.1

He put it in the middle, or midst.

2.1.1

And (in another version, “or”) he cut it in the middle, in two halves. [See the ism mafʿūl, below.]

2.1.2and have put a company of the enemy in the midst by means of it—فَوَسَّطْنَ بِهِ جَمْعًا

A reading in the Qur'ān, chapter 5. It may mean: and have put in the midst, by that, a company of the enemy; or have divided a company in two halves by that; or have by that come to be in the midst of a company of the enemy.

Others read فَوَسَطْنَ. See Form 1, first sense.

2.1.3

وسّط فى حَسَبِهِ: see Form 1, last sentence.

Show Lane's original text

, (K,) inf. n. تَوْسِيطٌ , (S, K,) He put it in the middle, or midst. (S, K.) And [so in the S, but in the K “ or, ”] He cut it [in the middle, or midst, i. e.] in two halves. (S, K.) [See the pass. part. n., below.] [In the Kur, c. 5,] some read, فَوَسَّطْنَ بِهِ جَمْعًا [which may mean And have put in the midst, thereby, a company of the enemy: or have divided in two halves, thereby, &c.: or have thereby become in the midst of a company of the enemy]: (S, TA:) others read فَوَسَطْنَ . (TA.) See 1, first sentence. وسّط فى حَسَبِهِ : see 1, last sentence.

Form 5تَوَسَّطَ3 senses · 1 main

Core sense — he mediated between people; he took what was of a middle sortgenerated

5.1

See Form 1, first sense, in four places.

5.1.1he mediated, or interceded, between the men to bring about a settlement—توسّط بَيْنَ النَّاسِ

From وَسَطَ الرَّجُلُ قَوْمَهُ and فِى قَوْمِهِ, explained above; or from وَسَاطَةٌ: he made mediation, or intercession, between them.

5.1.2he took what was of a middle sort, between the good and the bad—توسّط

Show Lane's original text

see 1, first sentence, in four places. توسّط بَيْنَ النَّاسِ He mediated, or interceded, between the men, or people, for the purpose of accommodation; from وَسَطَ الرَّجُلُ قَوْمَهُ and فِى قَوْمِهِ , explained above; (Msb;) or from وَسَاطَةٌ ; (S;) he made mediation, or intercession, ( عَمِلَ الوَسَاطَةَ ,) between them. (K.) توسّط also signifies He took what was of a middle sort, between the good and the bad. (K.)

Derived nouns 14

Nounوَسْط2 senses · 1 main

Core sense — in the middle of, in the midst of, amonggenerated

1I sat in the middle of, or among, the people—جَلَسْتُ وَسْطَ القَوْمِ

With the س sākin, it is an adverbial noun; [as such written وَسْطَ, meaning: in the middle of, in the midst of, or among].

Its middle letter is sākin for this reason, like بَيْنَ, with which it is synonymous; [for] it may be used in any case in which بَيْنَ may be put in its place.

Like بَيْنَ, it does not denote a part of the thing named by the noun to which it is prefixed, differing in this from وَسَط.

Said when the speaker is not one of them.

[in the middle of his head is oil]—وَسْطَ رَأْسِهِ دُهْنٌ

Not meaning a component part of the head.

[the one sitting in the midst of the ring is cursed]—الجَالِسُ وَسْطَ الحَلْقَةِ مَلْعُونٌ

From a tradition. He must of necessity turn his back towards some of those who surround him, and so displease them; and for this they curse him and revile him.

1.1

It may not properly be used as a declinable noun — not as mubtadaʾ, nor as agent, nor as object, and so on — differing in this too from وَسَط, unless the adverbial particle [فِى] is prefixed to it; in that case it has the sense of وَسَط, and you say جَلَسْتُ فِى وَسْطِ القَوْمِ and فى وَسْطِ رَأْسِهِ دُهْنٌ [like as you say جَلَسْتُ وَسْطَ القَوْمِ and وَسْطَ رَأْسِهِ دُهنٌ, explained above].

Sometimes it is used as a noun, keeping the sākin [and the adverbial form], as بَيْنَ is used as a noun though it is really an adverbial noun, as in the Qur'ān, 6:94, لَقَدْ تَقَطَّعَ بَيْنَكُمْ [meaning مَا بَيْنَكُمْ, or, as explained in the commentary of the Jalālayn, وَصْلُكُمْ بَيْنَكُمْ].

Or وَسْط is sometimes used for وَسَط improperly; or it may be so used; or it is so used by poetic licence; or, as some say, each of them may take the place of the other — and this seems the most likely.

Or one says وَسْط, with sukūn, only of what has separate, distinct parts, such as a number of men, or beasts of carriage; and وَسَط, or both, of what has united parts, such as a house, or the head, or a ring.

Th: وَسَطُ الشَّىْءِ and وسْطُهُ [both meaning the middle, or midst, of the thing] are said when the thing is solid; but when its parts are separate, or distinct, the word is وَسْطٌ, with sukūn, only.

Show Lane's original text

, with the س quiescent, is an adv. n.; [as such written وَسْطَ , meaning In the middle of: in the midst of; or among;] (S, M, IB, Mgh, K;) and it is for this reason that it has its middle letter quiescent, (S, IB,) like بَيْنَ (IB) with which it is syn.; (IB, Msb;) [for] it may be used in any case in which بَيْنَ may be substituted for it; (S, IAth, K;) and, like بَيْنَ , it does not denote a part of the thing denoted by the noun to which it is prefixed, wherein differing from وَسَط . (S, IB, K.) You say, جَلَسْتُ وَسْطَ القَوْمِ (S, IB, Msb) I sat [in the middle of, or in the midst of,] or among, the people, or company of men, (IB, Msb;) not being one of them. (IB.) And وَسْطَ رَأْسِهِ دُهْنٌ [In the middle of his head is oil]; not meaning a component part of the head. (IB.) And it is said in a trad. الجَالِسُ وَسْطَ الحَلْقَةِ مَلْعُونٌ [The sitter in the midst of the ring is cursed]: for he must of necessity turn his back towards some of those who surround him, and so displease them; wherefore they curse him and revile him. (IAth.) It may not [properly] be used as a decl. n., (IB,) i. e. as an inchoative, (Mgh,) nor as an agent, nor as an objective complement; (IB, Mgh) &c.; thus, also, differing from وَسَط ; unless it have the adverbial particle [ فِى ] prefixed to it; in which case it has the sense of وَسَط , and you say, جَلَسْتُ فِى وَسْطِ القَوْمِ and فى وَسْطِ رَأْسِهِ دُهْنٌ [like as you say جَلَسْتُ وَسْطَ القَوْمِ and وَسْطَ رَأْسِهِ دُهنٌ , explained above]: and sometimes it is used as a subst., preserving the quiescence [and the adverbial form], like as بَيْنَ is used as a subst. though virtually an adv. n., in cases like that where it is said in the Kur, [vi. 94,] لَقَدْ تَقَطَّعَ بَيْنَكُمْ [meaning مَا بَيْنَكُمْ , or, as explained in the Expos. of the Jel., وَصْلُكُمْ بَيْنَكُمْ ]: (IB:) or وَسْط is sometimes used for وَسَط , improperly; (S;) or it may be so used; (Msb;) or it is so used by poetic license; (M;) or, as some say, each of them may take the place of the other; and this seems the most likely: (IAth:) or one says وَسْط , with sukoon, only, of that whereof the component parts are separate, or distinct, (IAth, K *,) such as a number of men, and beasts of carriage, &c.; (IAth;) and وَسَط , (IAth,) or both, (K,) of that whereof the component parts are united, (IAth, K *,) such as a house, and the head, (IAth,) or such as a ring: (K:) it is related, as on the authority of Th, that وَسَطُ الشَّىْءِ and وسْطُهُ [both meaning The middle, or midst, of the thing] are said when the thing is solid; but when its component parts are separate, or distinct, the word is وَسْطٌ , with sukoon, exclusively. (M.)

Nounوَسَطٌ2 senses · 1 main

Core sense — the middle part of a thing; middling; conforming to the just mean; the bestgenerated

1[I sat in the middle, or middle part, of the house]—جَلَسْتُ فِى وَسَطِ الدَّارِ

[The middle, midst, or middle part, of a thing; that is,] properly, the part of which the several lateral, or outer, portions are equal, as for instance the middle finger; but also the part which is enclosed on its several sides, though unequally; or the part between the two sides or extremities of a thing; [or the part, or point, between every two opposite extremities of a thing, properly when equidistant;] as for instance the centre of a circle.

Also أَوْسَطُ, which is likewise a noun, like أَفْكَلٌ and أَزْمَلٌ [but imperfectly declinable because originally an adjective].

وَسَطٌ has fatḥ on its middle letter so that it agrees in measure with its opposite, which is طَرَفٌ; such agreement is frequent.

It is used only in cases in which بَيْنَ may not be put in its place, differing in this [and in other respects, mentioned just above,] from وَسْط; [on the like and unlike usages of وَسَط and وَسّط enough has been said just above, especially at the end.]

The plural of وَسَطٌ is أَوْسَاطٌ, and that of its synonym أَوْسَطُ is أَوَاسِطُ; or this may be a plural of وَاسِطٌ, originally وَوَاسِطُ.

Because وَسَط is a noun.

[the middle part of it became wide]—إِتَّسَعَ وَسَطُهُ

[I struck the middle part of his head]—ضَرَبْتُ وَسَطَ رَأْسِهِ

[I broke the middle part of the spear]—كَسَرْتُ وَسَطَ الرُّمْحِ

[the middle part of it is better than the extremity]—وَسَطُهُ خَيْرٌ مِنْ طَرَفِهِ

the best of affairs, or actions, or cases, are those between two extremes—خَيَرُ الأُمُورِ أَوْسَاطُهَا

See Form 1 of the reduplicated verb in the article on حق.

It is sometimes put in the accusative as an adverbial noun, as in the saying جَلَسْتُ وَسَطَ الدَّارِ; but this is a departure from the original usage, and [the meaning is جَلَسْتُ فِى وَسَطِ الدَّارِ, as explained above, so] it is not here synonymous with بَيْنَ, as وَسْطَ is.

1.1the middle finger—الإِصْبَعُ الوُسْطَى

It is also used as an adjective: [meaning middle; intermediate; midway, or equidistant, between the two extremities, in place or position — but in this sense superseded in usage by أَوْسَطُ, وَاسِطٌ and مُتَوَسِّطٌ; and in time, but in this sense also superseded in usage by أَوْسَطُ;] middling; of middle sort, kind, or rate, as also أَوْسَطُ, مُتَوَسِّطٌ and وَسُوطٌ [and وَسِيطٌ]; between good and bad, as also أَوْسَطُ; conforming to the just mean; just; equitable; good, as also وَسِيطٌ; most conforming to the just mean; most just; most equitable, applied to whatever is so of a thing, as also أَوْسَطَ; best, as also أَوْسَطُ; most generous.

When used as an adjective it is applied alike to a masculine, feminine, singular, dual and plural noun: the feminine of أَوْسَطُ is وُسْطَى, the masculine plural أَوَاسِطُ, and the feminine plural وُسَطٌ.

[the middle day]—اليَوْمُ الأَوْسَطُ

[the middle night]—اللَّيْلَةُ الوُسْطَى

the ten middle days—العَشَرَةُ الأَوَاسِطُ

the ten middle nights—الوُسَطُ العَشْرُ

Not العَشْرُ الأَوْسَطُ, which is a vulgar mistake that relaters of traditions have fallen into; or it may be a mistake of copying.

the middle prayer—الصَّلٰوةُ الوُسْطَى

In the Qur'ān, 2:239: the middle prayer between the other prayers, or between the prayers of the night and the day; or the most excellent of them in particular.

That is, the prayer of the afternoon, according to ʿAlee Ibn-Abee-Ṭālib, I'Ab and others, because the prophet said, on the day of the Aḥzāb, “they have diverted us from الصلوة الوسطى, the prayer of the afternoon”; or the prayer of daybreak (also said to be on the authority of ʿAlee), because it is between the prayers of the night and the day, the prophet's saying just quoted not contradicting this and other views, since what is meant in the tradition is not what is meant in the Qur'ān; or, according to Abu-l-Ḥasan, the prayer of Friday, because it is the most excellent of the prayers, and whoever says otherwise errs unless he traces the statement up to the prophet. These three opinions have the strongest authority, and the first is the one commonly held.

Or the prayer of noon, because it is in the middle of the day; or the prayer of Friday on that day, but the prayer of noon on other days (also said to be on the authority of ʿAlee); or the prayer of sunset; or the prayer of nightfall; or the night-prayer called الوِتْر; or the prayer of the breaking of the fast; or the prayer of sacrifices; or the prayer of the period called the ضُحَى; or the prayer of the congregation; or the prayer of fear; or the prayers of nightfall and daybreak together (said to be on the authorities of ʿOmar and ʿOthmān); or the prayers of daybreak and the afternoon together; or any of the five prayers, because two prayers come before it and two after it; or all the divinely-appointed prayers; or certain prayers not specified; or a prayer of middling length, between long and short.

a middling thing, of middle sort or kind, between good and bad—شَىْءٌ وَسَطٌ

Also أَوْسَطُ; and in the same way it is applied to a male slave, a female slave, two male slaves, and two sheep or goats.

of the middle sort of what you give your families to eat, between what is prodigal and what is niggardly—مِنْ أَوْسَطِ مَا تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ

the middle class of men—النَّمَطُ الأَوْسَطُ

In the Qur'ān, 5:91.

Occurring in a saying of ʿAlee, quoted in full in the article on غط.

teach me a religion of the middle sort—دِينًا وَسُوطا عَلِّمْنِى

From a saying of an Arab of the desert to El-Ḥasan, quoted in full under فَرَطَ.

[we have made you to be a nation] conforming to the just mean; just; equitable; or good—جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أَمَّةً وَسَطًا

choice pasturage—مَرْعًى وَسَطٌ

a good man—رَجُلٌ وَسَطٌ

In the Qur'ān, 2:137.

Also وَسِيطٌ; or a man having good grounds of pretension to respect.

such a one is the best of his people in race, and the highest of them in station—فُلَانٌ وَسِيطٌ فِى قَوْمِهِ

Also بَيْنَهُمْ; the words rendered “the best of his people” are أَوْسَطُهُمْ.

[such a one is of good, or of the best, quality in respect of tribe and of grounds of pretension to honour]—فُلَانٌ وَسِيطُ الدَّارِ وَالحَسَبِ

he is of the best of his people—هُوَ مِنْ وَسَطِ قَوْمِهِ

Also من أَوْسَطِهِمْ.

it is of the best of the thing—هُوَ مِنْ وَسَطِ الشَّىْءِ

Also من أَوْسَطِهِ.

the best of them said—أَوْسَطُهُمْ قَالَ

In the Qur'ān, 68:28. Or: the most rightly directed of them to the truth; or it means أَوْسَطُهُمْ رَأْيًا [the most remote of them from either extreme, in judgment]; or سِنًّا [in age].

Qur’ānic occurrences وَسَط

2:143

وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُوا۟ شُهَدَآءَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ ٱلرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا ۗ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا ٱلْقِبْلَةَ ٱلَّتِى كُنتَ عَلَيْهَآ إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يَتَّبِعُ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِمَّن يَنقَلِبُ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ ۚ وَإِن كَانَتْ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَـٰنَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِٱلنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Thus, have We made of you an Ummat justly balanced, that ye might be witnesses over the nations, and the Messenger a witness over yourselves; and We appointed the Qibla to which thou wast used, only to test those who followed the Messenger from those who would turn on their heels (From the Faith). Indeed it was (A change) momentous, except to those guided by Allah. And never would Allah Make your faith of no effect. For Allah is to all people Most surely full of kindness, Most Merciful.

Show Lane's original text

[The middle, midst, or middle part, of a thing; i. e.,] properly, the part of which several lateral, or outer, portions are equal; as, for instance, the middle finger: but also meaning the part which is surrounded, or enclosed, on its several sides, although unequally: (Msb:) or the part that is between the two sides or extremities of a thing; (M, IB, Mgh, K;) [or the part, or point, that is between every two opposite extremities of a thing; and properly when equidistant;] as, for instance, the centre of a circle: (Mgh:) as also أَوْسَطُ , (M, K,) which is [likewise] a subst., like أَفْكَلٌ and أَزْمَلٌ [but imperfectly decl. because originally an epithet]: (M:) وَسَطٌ has its middle letter with fet-h in order that it may agree in measure with its contr., which is طَرَفٌ ; the like agreement being frequent: (IB:) and it is only used in cases in which بَيْنَ may not be substituted for it, herein [and in other respects, mentioned in the next preceding paragraph,] differing from وَسْط : (S, IB, K:) [respecting the similar and dissimilar usages of وَسَط and وَسّط , sufficient observations have been made in the next preceding paragraph, which see throughout, and more especially in its latter part:] the pl. of وَسَطٌ is أَوْسَاطٌ ; and that of its syn. أَوْسَطُ is أَوَاسِطُ ; or this may be a pl. of وَاسِطٌ , and originally وَوَاسِطُ . (M.) You say, جَلَسْتُ فِى وَسَطِ الدَّارِ [I sat in the middle, or middle part, of the house]; (S, Mgh, Msb;) because وَسَط is a subst. (S.) And إِتَّسَعَ وَسَطُهُ [The middle, or middle part, thereof, became wide]. (Mgh, Msb.) And ضَرَبْتُ وَسَطَ رَأْسِهِ [I smote the middle, or middle part, of his head]. (Mgh, * Msb.) And كَسَرْتُ وَسَطَ الرُّمْحِ [I broke the middle, or middle part, of the spear]. (IB.) And وَسَطُهُ خَيْرٌ مِنْ طَرَفِهِ [The middle, or middle part, thereof is better than the extremity]. (Mgh, Msb.) And خَيَرُ الأُمُورِ أَوْسَاطُهَا The best of affairs, or actions, or cases, are such of them as are between two extremes. (M. [See R. Q. 1, in art. حق .]) It is sometimes put in the accus. case as an adv. n.; as in the saying, جَلَسْتُ وَسَطَ الدَّارِ ; but this is an instance of departure from the original usage; and [the meaning is جَلَسْتُ فِى وَسَطِ الدَّارِ signifying as explained above; so that] it is not here syn. with بَيْنَ , like as وَسْطَ is. (IB.) It is also used as an epithet: (IB, Mgh:) [as such signifying Middle; intermediate; midway, or equidistant, between the two extremities or extremes; in place, or position: but in this sense superseded in usage by أَوْسَطُ and وَاسِطٌ and مُتَوَسِّطٌ : and in time; but in this sense also superseded in usage by أَوْسَطُ :] middling; of middle sort, kind, or rate; (Msb;) as also أَوْسَطُ (S, * M, Mgh, Msb, K) and مُتَوَسِّطٌ (M, Mgh, Msb) and وَسُوطٌ (M, TA) [and وَسِيطٌ ]; between good and bad; (Msb, TA;) as also أَوْسَطُ : (Msb:) conforming, or conformable, to the just mean; just; equitable: (Zj, S, K:) good; (Zj, M, Msb, K;) as also وَسِيطٌ : (M:) most conforming, or conformable, to the just mean; most just; most equitable; applied to what is so of a thing; (S, M, K;) whatever it be; (S, K;) as also أَوْسَطَ : (M:) best; (Msb;) as also أَوْسَطُ : (S, * Msb, K *:) most generous: (M:) and when used as an epithet, it is applied alike to a masc., fem., sing., dual, and pl., subst.: (Mgh:) the fem. of أَوْسَطُ is وُسْطَى ; (Mgh, Msb;) and the pl. masc. أَوَاسِطُ ; and pl. fem. وُسَطٌ . (Msb.) Hence, (Msb,) الإِصْبَعُ الوُسْطَى (S, Msb, K) The middle finger. (Msb.) And اليَوْمُ الأَوْسَطُ [The middle day]. (Msb.) And اللَّيْلَةُ الوُسْطَى [The middle night. (Msb.) And العَشَرَةُ الأَوَاسِطُ , meaning The [ten middle] days. (Msb.) And الوُسَطُ العَشْرُ , meaning The [ten middle nights: not العَشْرُ الأَوْسَطُ ; for this is a vulgar mistake, into which relaters of traditions have fallen; or it may be a mistake of transcription. (Msb.) And الصَّلٰوةُ الوُسْطَى , (M, Mgh, &c.,) mentioned in the Kur, [ii. 239,] (M, K,) meaning The middle prayer (Bd, TA) between the other prayers, (Bd,) or between the prayers of the night and the day; (TA;) or the most excellent of them in particular: (Bd:) i. e. the prayer of the afternoon; ('Alee Ibn-Abee-Tálib, I'Ab, and others, Mgh, Bd, K;) because the prophet said, on the day of the Ahzáb, “ they have diverted us from الصلوة الوسطى , the prayer of the afternoon: ” (Bd:) or the prayer of daybreak; (also said to be on the authority of 'Alee, Mgh, Bd, K;) because it is between the prayers of the night and the day; (Bd;) for the saying of the prophet mentioned above does not contravene this and other assertions, since what is meant in the trad. is not what is meant in the Kur: (K:) or, (M, K,) accord. to Abu-l-Hasan, (M,) the prayer of Friday; (M, K;) because it is the most excellent of the prayers; (M;) and he who says otherwise errs, unless he trace up the assertion to the prophet: (M, K:) these three opinions are of the strongest authority; (B;) and the first is that which commonly obtains: (Mgh:) or the prayer of noon; (Mgh, Bd, Msb, K;) because it is in the middle of the day: (Bd:) or the prayer of Friday on the day thereof; but on other days the prayer of noon: (K, and also said to be on the authority of 'Alec:) or the prayer of sunset: (Mgh, Bd, K:) or the prayer of nightfall: (Bd, K:) or [the night-prayer called] الوِتْر : (K:) or the prayer of the breaking of the fast: (K:) or the prayer of sacrifices: (K:) or the prayer of the period called the ضُحَى : (K:) or the prayer of the congregation: (K:) or the prayer of fear: (K:) or the prayers of nightfall and daybreak together: (K, and said to be on the authorities of 'Omar and 'Othmán:) or the prayers of daybreak and the afternoon together: (K:) or any of the five prayers; because before it are two prayers and after it are two prayers: (K:) or all the divinely-appointed prayers: (K:) or certain prayers not particularized: (K:) or prayer of middling length, between long and short. (K.) Hence also, شَىْءٌ وَسَطٌ A middling thing; a thing of middle sort or kind; (Msb;) between good and bad; (S, Msb;) as also أَوْسَطُ : (Msb:) and in like manner it is applied to a male slave, and a female slave, (Msb,) and two male slaves, and two sheep or goats. (Mgh.) And مِنْ أَوْسَطِ مَا تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ , in the Kur, [v. 91,] Of the middle sort of that which ye give for food to your families, (Mgh, Msb,) between what is prodigal and what is niggardly. (Mgh.) And النَّمَطُ الأَوْسَطُ The middle class of men: occurring in a saying of 'Alee, cited in full in art. غط . (M.) And دِينًا وَسُوطا عَلِّمْنِى Teach thou to me a religion of the middle sort: occurring in a saying of an Arab of the desert to El-Hasan, cited in full voce فَرَطَ . (M, TA.) And جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أَمَّةً وَسَطًا , in the Kur, [ii. 137,] (S, Mgh, Msb,) [We have made you to be a nation] conforming, or conformable, to the just mean; just; equitable: (Zj, S, IB, Bd, K:) or good. (Zj, Bd, Msb, K.) And مَرْعًى وَسَطٌ Choice pasturage. (M.) And رَجُلٌ وَسَطٌ A good man; as also وَسِيطٌ : (M:) or a man having good grounds of pretension to respect. (TA.) And فُلَانٌ وَسِيطٌ فِى قَوْمِهِ , (S, K *,) or بَيْنَهُمْ , (as in some copies of the K,) Such a one is the best of his people ( أَوْسَطُهُمْ ) in race, and the highest of them in station. (S, K.) And فُلَانٌ وَسِيطُ الدَّارِ وَالحَسَبِ [Such a one is of good quality, or of the best quality, in respect of tribe, and of grounds of pretension to honour]. (Lth.) And هُوَ مِنْ وَسَطِ قَوْمِهِ , and من أَوْسَطِهِمْ , He is of the best of his people. (Msb.) And in like manner, هُوَ مِنْ وَسَطِ الشَّىْءِ , and من أَوْسَطِهِ , It is of the best of the thing. (Msb.) And أَوْسَطُهُمْ قَالَ in the Kur, lxviii. 28, The best of them said: (Jel:) or the most rightly directed, of them, to the truth: (Msb:) or it means أَوْسَطُهُمْ رَأْيًا [the most remote, of them, from either extreme, in judgment]; or سِنًّا [in age]. (Bd.)

Nounوَسُوطٌ1 sense

Core sense — middling, of middle sort, between good and badgenerated

See وَسَطٌ, used as an adjective, in two places.

Show Lane's original text

: see وَسَطٌ , as an epithet, in two places.

Nounوَسِيطٌ2 senses · 1 main

Core sense — a mediator, an intercessor; middling, of middle sortgenerated

See وَسَطٌ, used as an adjective, in five places.

1.1

A mediator, or an intercessor, for the purpose of settlement, between people, or between two persons engaged in dispute or litigation.

Show Lane's original text

: see وَسَطٌ , as an epithet, in five places. A mediator, or an intercessor, for the purpose of accommodation, (O, K,) between people, (O,) or between two persons engaged in mutual altercation or litigation. (K.)

Nounوَسَاطَةٌ3 senses · 1 main

Core sense — mediation, intercession; a middle rankgenerated

Originally a maṣdar: see Form 1.

1.1

And hence, as a noun: mediation, or intercession.

1.2the best of deenárs—وَسَاطَةُ الدَّنَانِيرِ

Show Lane's original text

[originally an inf. n.: (see 1:) and hence, as a subst., Mediation, or intercession]. (S, K: see 5.) وَسَاطَةُ الدَّنَانِيرِ The best of deenárs. (TA.)

Nounوَسِيطَةٌ1 sense

Core sense — a mean, or meansgenerated

[A mean, or means: plural وَسَائِطُ.]

Show Lane's original text

[ A mean, or means: pl. وَسَائِطُ .]

Nounوَاسِطٌ3 senses · 1 main

Core sense — the fore-part of the camel's saddle; the middle piece of wood in a yokegenerated

See وَسَطٌ, both as a noun and as an adjective.

1.1the fore-part of the camel's saddle—وَاسِطُ الكُورِ

Also الرَّحْلِ, وَاسِطَتُهُ and مَوْسِطَتُهُ (Lh, [or perhaps مُوسِطَتُهُ, corresponding to مُؤْخِرَتُهُ]).

Lth: the part of the camel's saddle which is between the تَادِمَة and the آخِرَة; but this is a mistake, for the واسط of the camel's saddle is one of the شَرْخَانِ, which are its two extremities, [or upright pieces of wood,] like the قَرَبُوسُانِ of the horse's saddle, between which the rider sits.

It is the extremity next to the head of the camel: the tall fore-part next to the breast of the rider, which the rider's breast sometimes strikes against.

The آخِرةَ is the extremity next to the tail of the camel: the hinder part of the saddle, its tall and broad piece of wood that is against the head of the rider.

The former is not called واسط as being a middle part between the آخرة and the قادمة, as Lth says; nor has the camel's saddle any part called قادمة.

1.2the piece of wood that is in the middle of a yoke—الوَاسِطُ

Between the two pieces called the عِضَادَتَانِ, in the yoke that is on the neck of a bull which draws a cart or the like.

Show Lane's original text

: see وَسَطٌ , as a subst., and also as an epithet. وَاسِطُ الكُورِ , (Lth, S, K,) or الرَّحْلِ , (ISh, Az, M,) and وَاسِطَتُهُ , (Lth, M, K,) and مَوْسِطَتُهُ , (Lh, M, [or perhaps مُوسِطَتُهُ , corresponding to مُؤْخِرَتُهُ ,]) The fore-part of the camel's saddle: (S, K:) accord. to Lth, (Az, TA,) the part, of the camel's saddle, which is between the تَادِمَة and the آخِرَة ; (Az, M, L;) but this is a mistake; (Az, L;) for the واسط of the camel's saddle is one of the شَرْخَانِ , (ISh, Az, L,) which are its two extremities, [or upright pieces of wood,] like the قَرَبُوسُانِ of the horse's saddle, (Az, L,) between which the rider sits; (ISh, Az, L;) it is the extremity which is next to the head of the camel; (Az, L;) the tall forepart next to the breast of the rider, (ISh, Az, L,) against which the breast of the rider sometimes strikes; (TA, in art. نحز ;) the آخِرةَ being the extremity which is next to the tail of the camel; (Az, L;) the hinder part of the saddle, which is its tall and broad piece of wood that is against ( تُحَاذِى ) the head of the rider: (ISh, Az, L:) the former of these is not called واسط as being a middle part between the آخرة and the قادمة , as Lth says; nor has the camel's saddle any [part called] قادمة . (Az, L.) الوَاسِطُ also signifies The piece of wood that is in the middle, between the two pieces called the عِضَادَتَانِ , in the yoke that is upon the neck of a bull which draws a cart or the like. (L in art. عضذ .)

Nounوَاسِطَةٌ5 senses · 1 main

Core sense — the jewel in the middle of a necklace; a means; an intermediarygenerated

The jewel that is in the middle of a قِلَادَة [or necklace], which is the best part of it; the large pearl in the middle of it, which is the most precious of its beads.

1.1by means of such a thing—بِوَاسِطَةِ كَذَا

In modern Arabic: a means of doing a thing.

1.2

Also an intermediary, or an agent between parties; a go-between.

1.3