ربع

رِبَاعَةٌ ذ : see رِبْعَةٌ, in four places. ― -b2- It also signifies A kind of حَمَالَة [meaning obligation, or responsibility, that must be discharged, or performed, taken upon himself by a person for others; and here, particularly, such as is taken upon himself by the head, or chief, of a people ]. (S, K.) You say, هُوَ عَلَى رِبَاعَةِ قَوْمِهِ, [properly He is over the affairs of his people, as indicated above, voce رِبْعَةٌ, last sentence,] meaning He is the head, or chief, of his people. (TA.) Abu-l- Kásim El-Isbahánee says, رِبَاعَةٌ is metaphorically used to signify (tropical:) The being a head, or chief; or the office of head, or chief; in consideration of the taking of the مِرْبَاع [or fourth part of the spoil, which was the share of the chief]: and hence one says, لَايُقِيمُ رِبَاعَةَ القَوْمِ غَيْرُ فُلَانٍ (tropical:) [ None will act vigorously in the office of head, or chief, of the people, except such a one ]. (TA.)