مسح

Root entry · 21 derived lemmas

The root مسح (masaha) primarily relates to the act of wiping, stroking, or passing over something. It extends to meanings of an imprint, trace, or mark left behind, as well as concepts of smoothness, gentleness, and even a subtle beauty or nobility. It can also denote a light or swift passing, and in specific contexts, refers to certain types of garments, tools, or even physical attributes.

Derived headwords

المَسَائِحnoun

1.
fine bowsclassical
Referring to excellent quality bows, often described as having a gentle flexibility.

لها مسائح زور — they have bows with a slight bend

لنا مسائح أي لنا قسي — we have bows

مَسِيحَةnoun

1.
fine bowclassical
The singular form of مسائح, referring to a fine bow.
2.
piece of silverclassical
A piece or fragment of silver.

واحدتها مسيحة — its singular is masiha

مَسَحَverb

1.
to wipeboth
To pass one's hand or an object over a surface to clean, dry, or smooth it.
2.
to strokeboth
To gently pass the hand over someone or something, often as a sign of affection or blessing.
3.
to grazeboth
To pass lightly or quickly over something, without lingering.
4.
to make leanclassical
To cause an animal, particularly a camel or a she-camel, to become thin or emaciated.

مسحوا رأسه — they wiped his head

مسحت الناقة — the she-camel became lean

المَسْحnoun

1.
wipingboth
The act of wiping or stroking.
2.
a garmentclassical
A garment made of hair, such as wool or camel hair.
3.
a type of plantclassical
A type of plant, possibly referring to a type of grass or herb.

المسح: البلاس — Al-Masḥ: Al-Balās (a type of garment)

المسح: الكساء من الشعر — Al-Masḥ: Clothing made of hair

أَمْسَاحnoun

1.
few garmentsclassical
The small plural of مسح, referring to a few garments made of hair.

والجمال كأن ... الرشح، منهن بالآباط، أمساح — and the camels, as if ... sweat, from their armpits, were garments

مُسُوحnoun

1.
garmentsclassical
The large plural of مسح, referring to many garments made of hair.

مِسْحَةnoun

1.
traceboth
A visible mark, sign, or trace left on something, often indicating a quality or characteristic.
2.
touch of beautyboth
A subtle hint or trace of beauty, grace, or nobility.
3.
sign of nobilityboth
An indication of noble lineage or inherent good qualities.

عليه مسحة ملك — he has a trace of royalty

على وجه مي مسحة من ملاحة — on May's face is a trace of charm

مَسْحًاnoun

1.
a wipingboth
The act of wiping or stroking, used as a masdar.
2.
bestowed with nobilityclassical
Having been endowed or marked with nobility or generosity.

وقد مسح بالعتق والكرم مسحا — and he was endowed with nobility and generosity

مَمْسُوحadjective

1.
uglyclassical
An object or person that is ugly, unfortunate, or altered from its natural form.

الشيء الممسوح: القبيح المشؤوم المغير عن خلقته — The mamsūḥ thing: the ugly, ill-omened, and altered from its creation.

المَسِيحnoun

1.
rough towelclassical
A coarse or rough towel.
2.
forearmclassical
The forearm.
3.
piece of silverclassical
A piece or fragment of silver.
4.
silver coinclassical
A silver coin, specifically a type of silver coin known as an atlas dirham.
5.
sweatclassical
Sweat, particularly when it appears on the body.

المسيح: المنديل الأخشن — Al-Masīḥ: The coarser towel

المسيح: الذراع — Al-Masīḥ: The forearm

المسيح والمسيحة: القطعة من الفضة — Al-Masīḥ and Al-Masīḥah: The piece of silver

الدرهم الأطلس مسيح — The atlas dirham is a masīḥ

فراش المسيح كالجمان المثقب — The bed of sweat is like pierced pearls

المَسِيحَةnoun

1.
piece of silverclassical
A piece or fragment of silver.

المسيح والمسيحة: القطعة من الفضة — Al-Masīḥ and Al-Masīḥah: The piece of silver

امتَسَحَverb

1.
to draw outclassical
To draw a sword or blade out of its sheath.

امتسحت السيف من غمده إذا استللته — you drew the sword from its sheath if you pulled it out

مَسِيحَتَيnoun

1.
silver platesclassical
Dual form referring to two plates or sheets of silver.

كأن مسيحتي ورق عليها — as if two silver plates were upon them

المَسَائِحnoun

1.
silver adornmentsclassical
Adornments or decorations made of silver.

تعلى عليه مسائح من فضة — silver adornments were placed upon it

المَسِيحnoun

1.
sweatclassical
Sweat, particularly when it appears on the body.

فراش المسيح كالجمان المثقب — The bed of sweat is like pierced pearls

الأَمْسَحadjective

1.
timid wolfclassical
A wolf that is timid or cowardly.
2.
one-eyedclassical
A person who is blind in one eye, or has a defective eye.
3.
travelerclassical
One who travels extensively or wanders.
4.
liarclassical
A person who is a habitual liar.

الأمسح: الذئب الأزل — Al-Amsaḥ: The timid wolf

الأمسح: الأعور الأبخق — Al-Amsaḥ: The one-eyed, defective-eyed (person)

الأمسح: السيار في سياحته — Al-Amsaḥ: The one who travels in his wanderings

الأمسح: الكذاب — Al-Amsaḥ: The liar

مَسْحَاءadjective

1.
swift raidclassical
Describing a raid or attack that is quick and light, passing by without lingering.

أغر عليهم غارة مسحاء — he launched a swift raid against them

مَسْحَةnoun

1.
sign of vengeanceclassical
A sign or mark of divine vengeance or punishment.
2.
sign of adornmentclassical
A sign or mark of adornment or beauty.

ومسحة النقمة على من سعى — and the mark of vengeance upon those who strive

تَمَسَّحَverb

1.
to perform tayammumboth
To perform ritual purification using earth or dust, as in Islamic jurisprudence (tayammum).
2.
to touch the earthclassical
To touch the earth or its soil, especially with the forehead during prostration in prayer.

تمسحوا بالأرض فإنها بكم برة — perform tayammum with the earth, for it is merciful to you

امسحوا رأسه — wipe his head

امْسَحُواverb

1.
wipe (plural imperative)both
An imperative command for a group to wipe or stroke.

فامسحوا رأسه من أعلاه إلى مقدمه — so wipe his head from its top to its front

المَسَاحِيnoun

1.
spadesclassical
Plural of مسحاة (masḥāh), meaning spades or shovels, tools used for digging and clearing.

فخرجوا بمساحيهم ومكاتلهم — so they came out with their spades and their baskets

Parallel reading

والمسائح: القسي الجياد، واحدتها مسيحة؛ قال أبو الهيثم الثعلبي: لها مسائح زور، في مراكضها ... لين، وليس بها وهن ولا رقق

And Al-Masā'iḥ: fine bows, its singular is Masīḥah; Abu Al-Haytham Al-Tha'labi said: they have bows with a slight bend, in their running... flexible, and they have no weakness nor thinness.

والمسح: البلاس.

And Al-Masḥ: Al-Balās (a type of garment).

والمسح: الكساء من الشعر والجمع القليل أمساح؛ قال أبو ذؤيب: ثم شربن بنبط، والجمال كأن ... الرشح، منهن بالآباط، أمساح

And Al-Masḥ: clothing made of hair, and the small plural is Amsāḥ; Abu Dhu'ayb said: then they drank from Nabt, and the camels, as if ... sweat, from their armpits, were garments.

والكثير مسوح.

And the large plural is Masūḥ.

وعليه مسحة من جمال أي شيء منه؛ قال ذو الرمة: على وجه مي مسحة من ملاحة، ... وتحت الثياب الخزي، لو كان باديا

And he has a trace of beauty, meaning something from him; Dhu Al-Rummah said: on May's face is a trace of charm, ... and beneath the clothes is shame, if it were apparent.

ويطلع عليكم رجل من خيار ذي يمن على وجهه مسحة ملك.

And a man from the best of Yemen will appear to you, on his face is a trace of royalty.

يقال: على وجهه مسحة ملك ومسحة جمال أي أثر ظاهر منه.

It is said: on his face is a trace of royalty and a trace of beauty, meaning a visible mark from him.

قال شمر: العرب تقول هذا رجل عليه مسحة جمال ومسحة عتق وكرم، ولا يقال ذلك إلا في المدح؛ قال: ولا يقال عليه مسحة قبح.

Shammir said: the Arabs say this is a man upon whom is a trace of beauty and a trace of nobility and generosity, and this is only said in praise; he said: and it is not said upon him is a trace of ugliness.

وقد مسح بالعتق والكرم مسحا؛ قال الكميت: خوادم أكفاء عليهن مسحة ... من العتق، أبداها بنان ومحجر

And he was endowed with nobility and generosity with an endowment; Al-Kumait said: servants of equals upon whom is a trace ... of nobility, revealed by fingertips and the eye socket.

والشيء الممسوح: القبيح المشؤوم المغير عن خلقته.

And the mamsūḥ thing: the ugly, ill-omened, and altered from its creation.

الأزهري: ومسحت الناقة ومسحتها أي هزلتها وأدبرتها.

Al-Azhari: And we made the she-camel lean and made it lean, meaning we emaciated it and made it go away.

والمسيح: المنديل الأخشن.

And Al-Masīḥ: the coarser towel.

والمسيح: الذراع.

And Al-Masīḥ: the forearm.

والمسيح والمسيحة: القطعة من الفضة.

And Al-Masīḥ and Al-Masīḥah: the piece of silver.

والدرهم الأطلس مسيح.

And the atlas dirham is a masīḥ.

ويقال: امتسحت السيف من غمده إذا استللته؛

And it is said: you drew the sword from its sheath if you pulled it out;

كأن مسيحتي ورق عليها، ... نمت قرطيهما أذن خديم

as if two silver plates were upon them, ... the ear of a servant grew its two earrings.

تعلى عليه مسائح من فضة، ... وترى حباب الماء غير يبيس

Silver adornments were placed upon it, ... and you see the bubbles of water not dry.

فراش المسيح كالجمان المثقب

The bed of sweat is like pierced pearls.

يا ريها، وقد بدا مسيحي، ... وابتل ثوباي من النضيح

Oh, its drink, and my sweat has appeared, ... and my clothes are wet from the perspiration.

وفي حديث أبي بكر: أغر عليهم غارة مسحاء ؛ هو فعلاء من مسحهم يمسحهم إذا مر بهم مرا خفيفا لا يقيم فيه عندهم.

And in the hadith of Abu Bakr: he launched a swift raid against them; it is fa'lā' from their passing over them, passing them lightly without staying with them.

أبو سعيد في بعض الأخبار: نرجو النصر على من خالفنا ومسحة النقمة على من سعى ؛ مسحتها: آيتها وحليتها؛ وقيل: معناه أن أعناقهم تمسح أي تقطف.

Abu Sa'id in some reports: we hope for victory over those who oppose us and the mark of vengeance upon those who strive; its mark: its sign and its adornment; and it was said: its meaning is that their necks are wiped, i.e., cut off.

وفي الحديث: تمسحوا بالأرض فإنها بكم برة ؛ أراد به التيمم، وقيل: أراد مباشرة ترابها بالجباه في السجود من غير حائل، ويكون هذا أمر تأديب واستحباب لا وجوب.

And in the hadith: perform tayammum with the earth, for it is merciful to you; it means tayammum, and it was said: it means touching its soil with the foreheads in prostration without a barrier, and this is an order of discipline and recommendation, not obligation.

وفي حديث ابن عباس: إذا كان الغلام يتيما فامسحوا رأسه من أعلاه إلى مقدمه، وإذا كان له أب فامسحوا من مقدمه إلى قفاه ؛

And in the hadith of Ibn Abbas: if the boy is an orphan, then wipe his head from its top to its front, and if he has a father, then wipe from his front to his back;

وفي حديث خيبر: فخرجوا بمساحيهم ومكاتلهم ؛ المساحي: جمع مسحاة وهي المجرفة من الحديد، والميم زائدة، لأنه من السحو الكشف والإزالة، والله أعلم.

And in the hadith of Khaybar: so they came out with their spades and their baskets; Al-Masāḥī: plural of Masḥāh, which is an iron spade, and the 'm' is extra, because it is from 'sahw' (to uncover and remove), and God knows best.