عول

عِوَلٌ ذ is [said to be] a subst. signifying Reliance, and confidence: (S, * K, TA:) and [it is said that] هُوَ عِوَلِى signifies He is my stay, or support: the word, however, occurs in this form, twice, in a verse of Taäbata-sharrà, accord. to the relation thereof by Aboo-'Ikrimeh; but accord. to others it is ↓ عَوَلٌ, with fet-h to the ع and و, and is said to be an inf. n.; whereas the former is said to be pl. of ↓ عَوْلَةٌ; [and the two words signify, respectively, a weeping and weepings; for] by his saying لٰكِنَّمَا عَِوَلِى اـِنْ عَِوَلٍ the poet means If I wept for any one, I would weep &c. (TA.) ― -b2- And عِوَلٌ is also a subst. signifying An asking for aid. (K, TA.)