Lane’s articleكَمْ2 senses · 1 main
1
For its synonym كَأَىٍّ or كَأَيِّنْ, see under أَىٌّ.
1.1
As an interrogative, with the thing counted left unexpressed: What number? How many?
It can also virtually mean How much?, as in an example under سِقْىٌ, and so too in examples under مَسَافَةٌ and under شَبْرٌ.
Also How long?, as in the Qur, 2:161, and the like, a noun meaning a period of time being understood; see also examples under عَسَفَ and under فَرَشَ.
Show Lane's original text
: see its syn. كَأَىٍّ or كَأَيِّنْ voce أَىٌّ . As an interrogative with the specification suppressed, What number? How many? and, as in an ex. voce سِقْىٌ , virtually meaning How much? and so in an ex. voce مَسَافَةٌ and voce شَبْرٌ . Also How long? as in the Kur, ii. 161, &c.; a noun signifying a period of time being understood: see also an ex. voce عَسَفَ , and voce فَرَشَ .