عف

عَفِيفٌ ذ and ↓ عَفٌّ epithets from عَفَّ, as such signifying Abstaining (S, O, Msb, K) from what is unlawful, (S, O,) or from what is not lawful nor comely or decorous, (K,) or from things that should be sacred or inviolable, and base, or carnal, objects of inordinate desire, (TA,) or from a thing: (Msb:) [and very often used as meaning abstinent, continent, chaste, virtuous, modest, decent, or decorous: ] fem. of the former with ة; (S, O, K;) and so of ↓ the latter, (S, O, Msb, K,) which has no broken pl.: (TA:) the pl. masc. (of عَفِيفٌ, Msb, TA) is أَعِفَّاآءُ (O, Msb, K, TA) and أَعِفَّةٌ: (Msb, TA:) عَفِيفَةٌ, applied to a woman, signifies excellent, or high-born, good, righteous, or virtuous; and [more commonly] continent, or chaste; (TA;) and the pl. of this is عَفَائِفُ and عَفِيفَاتٌ. (O, K.)