عصم

4 اعصم ذ He exerted his strength, and laid hold, or fast hold, upon a thing, or clung to it, lest his horse, or his camel, should throw him down; [or rather اعصم بِشَىْءٍ has this meaning, or he laid hold, or fast hold, upon a thing, or clung to it; ] and in like manner one says بِهِ ↓ اعتصم, and به ↓ استعصم; (S;) بِهِ ↓ اعتصم is said by Er-Rághib, to signify thus; whence, in the Kur [iii. 98], بِحَبْلِ ا@للّٰهِ ↓ وَا@عْتَصمُوا [expl. in art. حبل]: (TA:) and [hence, likewise,] اعصم بِحَبْلِهِ signifies تَمَسَّكَ بِهِ [meaning He held fast by his corenant ]. (Mgh.) One says also, اعصم بِالبَعِيرِ He laid hold upon one of the cords, or ropes, of the camel, (K, TA,) lest the camel should throw him down. (TA.) And اعصم بِالفَرَسِ He laid hold upon the mane of the horse, (K, TA,) lest his horse should throw him down. (TA.) And اعصم بِفُلَانٍ He laid upon such a one: (K:) or اعصم بِصَاحِبِهِ He clung to his companion. (S.) ― -b2- And [hence,] He took refuge, and defended, or protected, himself, مِنَ الشَّرِّ from evil; as also ↓ اعتصم, and ↓ استعصم (Ham p. 810.) -A2- Also He was not firm [ in his seat ] upon the back of the horse. (K.) -A3- اعصم فُلَانًا He prepared for such a one, (S, K,) in the camel's saddle, and in the horse's saddle, (S,) a thing upon which he might lay hold, (S, K,) lest he should fall. (S.) ― -b2- اعصم القِرْبَةَ: see 1, latter half.