ظمء

ظِمْءٌ ذ a subst. from ظَمِئَ (S, M, K) in both of its senses; (M, K;) [i. e.] it signifies Thirst: (MA:) [or most vehement thirst: or the slightest degree of thirst: ] pl. أَظْمَاآءٌ. (MA.) ― -b2- [And (tropical:) Desire, or a longing, (or, as we often say, a thirsting, ) to meet with a person. See 1.] ― -b3- And (S, M, K) The time, or interval, or period, between two drinkings, or waterings, (T, S, M, K,) in the coming of camels to water: (T:) and the keeping of camels from the water [ during that interval, i. e.] until the extreme limit of the coming thereto: (S:) pl. أَظْمَاآءٌ. (T, S, M.) The shortest ظِمْءٌ of camels is that termed غِبٌّ, i. e., when they come to the water one day and return, and are in the place of pasture a day, and come to the water [again] on the third day; the interval between their two drinkings being termed a ظِمْء: this is during the greatest heat: but when Suheyl [i. e. Canopus] rises [aurorally, which it did in Central Arabia, about the commencement of the era of the Flight, on the 4th of August, O. S.], they increase the ظِمْء, so that the camels remain in the place of pasture two days, and come to the water on the fourth; and one says, وَرَدَتْ رِبْعًا: then follow the خِمْس and the سِدْس to the عِشْر: and the interval between their two drinkings is termed ظِمْءٌ, whether long or short. (T.) One says, مَا بَقِىَ مِنْ عُمُرِهِ اـِلَّا ظِمْءُ الحِمَارِ, (T, S, * K, * TA,) meaning There remained not of his life save a little; [lit., save the period between the two drinkings of the ass; ] (S, K, * TA;) because there is no beast that bears thirst for a shorter time than the ass; (T, S, * K, * TA;) for he comes to the water in summer every day twice. (T, TA.) ― -b4- الظِّمْءُ also signifies (assumed tropical:) The period from birth to death; (K;) or so ظِمْءُ الحَيَاةِ. (S, M, TA.) ― -b5- ظِمْوٌ is a dial. var. of ظِمْءٌ. (T and M in art. ظمو.)