حرب

حَرَبٌ حرب inf. n. of حَرِبَ. (A, Mgh, Msb.) وَاحَرَبَا is an ejaculation expressive of grief, lamentation, or regret, [meaning Alas, my spoliation! or my loss! or my grief! ] (ISd, Mgh, TA,) used in an absolute manner, like وَا أَسَفَا, (ISd, TA,) or يَا أَسَفَا, (Mgh,) from حَرَبَهُ “ he despoiled him of his wealth, or property: ” (K:) [or from حَرِبَ, q. v.:] or it originated from the fact that Harb the son of Umeiyeh, when any one died, used to ask his family what they required to expend on the occasion, and used to supply them therewith; (TA;) and when he himself died, the people of Mekkeh and its neighbourhood bewailed him, saying, وَا حَرْبَا, (Th, K, * TA,) or وَا حَرْبَاهْ, (TA,) [ Alas for Harb! ] and then they changed the expression to وَا حَرَبَا, (Th, K,) or وَاحَرَبَاهْ, and it became used in the case of bewailing any person who was dear, and in the cases of other calamities: but this account of the origin did not please ISd. (TA.) ― -b2- Also Perdition. destruction, or death. (Har p. 158.)