سمع

Root entry · 18 derived lemmas

The root 'سمع' primarily relates to the act of hearing and perception. It extends to concepts of obedience, understanding, and even the physical dimensions of space, often metaphorically. Derived terms can describe beings with keen senses, specific locations, or even negative connotations of being sly or malevolent.

Derived headwords

سَمِعَverb

1.
to hearboth
To perceive sound with the ear.
2.
to obeyboth
To comply with or be obedient to someone's command or request.
3.
to understandclassical
To grasp the meaning of something heard.

ورجل سمع يسمع — And a man who hears.

فسمعتم له — So you obeyed him.

سَمْعnoun

1.
hearingboth
The faculty or act of hearing.
2.
earclassical
The organ of hearing.
3.
width and lengthclassical
Metaphorically refers to the extent or dimensions of something, like the earth.
4.
wolf-hyena hybridclassical
A specific type of wild animal, the offspring of a wolf and a hyena.

اللهم سمعا لا بلغا — O Allah, hearing but not reaching (i.e., may we hear but not be affected by bad news).

سمع الأرض وبصرها: طولها وعرضها — The hearing and sight of the earth: its length and its width.

سَمِيعadjective

1.
hearingboth
Possessing the faculty of hearing.
2.
all-hearingboth
One who hears everything, often used as an attribute of God.

سَمَّاعَةnoun

1.
hearing aidmodern
A device to improve hearing.
2.
eavesdropperclassical
One who listens secretly.

سَمْعَانname

1.
Sim'anboth
A male given name, notably of the believing man from the family of Pharaoh.

وسمعان: اسم الرجل المؤمن من آل فرعون — And Sim'an: the name of the believing man from the family of Pharaoh.

مَسْمَعnoun

1.
place of hearingclassical
The area where sound can be heard.
2.
handle of a waterskin/bucketclassical
A part of a waterskin or bucket where a rope is attached.

والمسمع: موضع العروة من المزادة — And the masma': the place of the handle on the waterskin.

تَسَمَّعَverb

1.
to listen intentlyboth
To listen carefully or eavesdrop.
2.
to guessclassical
To infer or assume based on limited information, as if by listening.

وهي التي إذا تسمعت أو تبصرت فلم تر شيئا تظنته تظنيا — And she is the one who, if she listens intently or observes and sees nothing, she assumes it by assumption.

أَسْمَعَverb

1.
to make hearboth
To cause someone to hear something.
2.
to grant hearingclassical
To allow or enable someone to hear.
3.
to equip with a handleclassical
To add a handle or loop to a container like a bucket.

أبصر به وأسمع ، أي ما أسمعه وما أبصره على التعجب — How well he sees and hears! meaning, how much he hears and sees, in wonder.

وأسمع الدلو: جعل لها عروة في أسفلها — And asma'a the bucket: he made for it a handle at its bottom.

سَمْعَنَةnoun

1.
wonderclassical
A marvel or astonishing thing.
2.
keen perceptionclassical
Excellent hearing and sight.

سمعنة نظرنة، بالضم، وهي التي إذا تسمعت أو تبصرت فلم تر شيئا تظنته تظنيا — Sam'anah Nazranah, with damma, meaning she who, if she listens intently or observes and sees nothing, assumes it by assumption.

المَسْمَعَانnoun

1.
sides of a bucket's rimclassical
The two sides of the rim of a bucket.
2.

سَمِيعَانnoun

1.
ploughing toolsclassical
Two long sticks used in the yoke for ploughing.

السميعان من أدوات الحراثين عودان طويلان في المقرن الذي يقرن به الثور — The sam'an are from the tools of ploughmen, two long sticks in the yoke with which the ox is yoked.

سَمْعَمَعadjective

1.
small-headedclassical
Having a small head and body.
2.
slyclassical
Cunning, quick, and possibly malicious.
3.
swiftclassical
Moving quickly and lightly.

والسمعمع: الصغير الرأس والجثة الداهية — And as-sam'ama': the small-headed and small-bodied, the cunning one.

سَمْعَمَعَةadjective

1.
like a ghoulclassical
Resembling a female demon or evil spirit.
2.
sly womanclassical
A cunning or malicious woman.

وامرأة سمعمعة: كأنها غول — And a sam'amah woman: as if she were a ghoul.

المَسَامِعَةnoun

1.
a tribeclassical
A lineage or tribe, specifically from Taym al-Lat.

ومسمع: أبو قبيلة يقال لهم المسامعة — And Masma': the father of a tribe called al-Musami'ah.

سَمْعَانname

1.
Sim'anclassical
A place name, possibly a valley or region.

ودير سمعان: موضع — And Dayr Sim'an: a place.

سَمْعَمverb

1.
to be swiftclassical
To move quickly and lightly.

سَمْسَامadjective

1.
tall and thinclassical
Describing a man who is tall and slender.

والسمعمع والسمسام من الرجال: الطويل الدقيق — And as-sam'ama' and as-samsam among men: the tall and thin.

سَمْعَمَةadjective

1.
tall and thin womanclassical
Describing a woman who is tall and slender.

وامرأة سمعمعة وسمسامة — And a woman sam'amah and samsamah.

Parallel reading

والمفنة: التي تأتي بفنون من العجائب، ويروى: سمعنة نظرنة، بالضم، وهي التي إذا تسمعت أو تبصرت فلم تر شيئا تظنته تظنيا

And al-mufinnah: she who brings various kinds of wonders, and it is narrated: Sam'anah Nazranah, with damma, meaning she who, if she listens intently or observes and sees nothing, assumes it by assumption.

وقال اللحياني: سمعنة نظرنة وسمعنة نظرنة أي جيدة السمع والنظر.

And Al-Lihyani said: Sam'anah Nazranah and Sam'anah Nazranah, meaning excellent in hearing and sight.

وقوله: أبصر به وأسمع ، أي ما أسمعه وما أبصره على التعجب.

And his saying: 'How well he sees and hears!', meaning, how much he hears and sees, in wonder.

وفي الدعاء: اللهم سمعا لا بلغا، وسمعا لا بلغا، وسمع لا بلغ، وسمع لا بلغ، معناه يسمع ولا يبلغ

And in the supplication: 'O Allah, hearing but not reaching', meaning, he hears but does not reach (i.e., is not affected by bad news).

الكسائي: إذا سمع الرجل الخبر لا يعجبه قال: سمع ولا بلغ، وسمع لا بلغ أي أسمع بالدواهي ولا تبلغني.

Al-Kisa'i said: If a man hears news he dislikes, he says: 'Sam'a wa la balagha', meaning, let me hear of calamities but do not let them reach me.

سمع الأرض وبصرها: طولها وعرضها؛ قال أبو عبيد: ولا وجه له إنما معناه الخلاء.

The hearing and sight of the earth: its length and its width; Abu Ubayd said: It has no basis, its meaning is simply emptiness.

حكى ابن الأعرابي: ألقى نفسه بين سمع الأرض وبصرها إذا غرر بها وألقاها حيث لا يدرى أين هو.

Ibn Al-A'rabi narrated: He threw himself between the hearing and sight of the earth when he endangered himself and cast himself where he knew not where he was.

يقال: خرج فلان بين سمع الأرض وبصرها إذا لم يدر أين يتوجه لأنه لا يقع على الطريق

It is said: So-and-so went out between the hearing and sight of the earth when he knew not where to turn because he was not on the path.

ويقال للرجل إذا غرر بنفسه وألقاها حيث لا يدرى أين هو: ألقى نفسه بين سمع الأرض وبصرها.

And it is said of a man who endangers himself and casts himself where he knows not where he is: He threw himself between the hearing and sight of the earth.

وقال أبو عبيد: معنى قوله تخرج أختي معه بين سمع الأرض وبصرها ، أن الرجل يخلو بها ليس معها أحد يسمع كلامها ويبصرها إلا الأرض القفر، ليس أن الأرض لها سمع، ولكنها وكدت الشناعة في خلوتها بالرجل الذي صحبها

And Abu Ubayd said: The meaning of his saying 'my sister goes out with him between the hearing and sight of the earth' is that the man is alone with her, with no one else present to hear her words or see her except the barren earth; it does not mean the earth has hearing, but it emphasizes the disgrace of her being alone with the man she accompanied.

قال ابن السكيت: يقال لقيته بين سمع الأرض وبصرها أي بأرض ما بها أحد.

Ibn Al-Sikkit said: It is said 'I met him between the hearing and sight of the earth', meaning in a land where there was no one.

وفي الخبر: أن عبد الملك بن مروان خطب يوما فقال: وليكم عمر بن الخطاب، وكان فظا غليظا مضيقا عليكم فسمعتم له.

And in the narration: 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan gave a sermon one day and said: Your ruler was Umar ibn Al-Khattab, and he was harsh, stern, and oppressive to you, yet you obeyed him.

والمسمع: موضع العروة من المزادة، وقيل: هو ما جاوز خرت العروة، وقيل: المسمع عروة في وسط الدلو والمزادة والإداوة، يجعل فيها حبل لتعتدل الدلو؛

And al-masma': the place of the handle on the waterskin, and it is said: it is what extends beyond the hole of the handle, and it is said: al-masma' is a handle in the middle of the bucket, waterskin, and pouch, into which a rope is placed to balance the bucket;

وأسمع الدلو: جعل لها عروة في أسفلها من باطن ثم شد حبلا إلى العرقوة لتخف على حاملها

And he made the bucket 'asama': he made for it a handle at its bottom from the inside, then tied a rope to the main handle to lighten it for its carrier.

وقال: سألت عمرا بعد بكر خفا، ... والدلو قد تسمع كي تخفا

And he said: I asked Amr for a camel after Bakr, a mature one... and the bucket can be listened to (or made lighter) so that it becomes lighter.

والمسمعان: الخشبتان اللتان تدخلان في عروتي الزبيل إذا أخرج به التراب من البئر.

And al-masma'an: the two wooden pieces that enter the two handles of the basket when earth is removed from the well with it.

قال الأزهري: وسمعت بعض العرب يقول للرجلين اللذين ينزعان المشآة من البئر بترابها عند احتفارها: أسمعا المشآة أي أبيناها عن جول الركية وفمها.

Al-Azhari said: And I heard some Arabs say to the two men who pull the bucket with its earth from the well during its excavation: 'Asm'ia al-mish'ah', meaning, 'make the bucket go up from the well's depth and mouth'.

قال الليث: السميعان من أدوات الحراثين عودان طويلان في المقرن الذي يقرن به الثور أي لحراثة الأرض.

Al-Layth said: The sam'an are from the tools of ploughmen, two long sticks in the yoke with which the ox is yoked, meaning for ploughing the earth.

والمسمعان: جوربان يتجورب بهما الصائد إذا طلب الظباء في الظهيرة.

And al-masma'an: socks worn by the hunter when hunting gazelles at noon.

والسمع: سبع مركب، وهو ولد الذئب من الضبع.

And as-sam': a hybrid beast, which is the offspring of a wolf and a hyena.

وفي المثل: أسمع من السمع الأزل، وربما قالوا: أسمع من سمع؛ قال الشاعر: تراه حديد الطرف أبلج واضحا، ... أغر طويل الباع، أسمع من سمع

And in the proverb: 'More hearing than the eternal sam'' (a creature known for its hearing), and sometimes they say: 'More hearing than a sam'' (a wolf-hyena hybrid); the poet said: You see him sharp of sight, bright-faced, ... noble, long-limbed, more hearing than a sam'.

والسمعمع: الصغير الرأس والجثة الداهية؛ قال ابن بري شاهده قول الشاعر: كأن فيه ورلا سمعمعا

And as-sam'ama': the small-headed and small-bodied, the cunning one; Ibn Birri cited the poet's saying: As if it had a sam'ama' lizard in it.

وقيل: هو الخفيف اللحم السريع العمل الخبيث اللبق، طال أو قصر، وقيل: هو المنكمش الماضي، وهو فعلعل.

And it is said: He is light-fleshed, quick in action, malicious, and clever, whether tall or short; and it is said: He is the one who shrinks back and moves forward, and it is of the form fa'lal.

وغال سمعمع وشيطان سمعمع لخبثه؛ قال: ويل لأجمال العجوز مني، ... إذا دنوت أو دنون مني، كأنني سمعمع من جن لم يقنع بقوله سمعمع حتى قال من جن لأن سمعمع الجن أنكر وأخبث من سمعمع الإنس؛

And a sam'ama' ghoul and a sam'ama' devil for its malice; he said: Woe to the old woman's camels from me, ... when I approach or they approach me, as if I were a sam'ama' from the jinn; he did not suffice with saying sam'ama' until he said 'from the jinn' because the sam'ama' of jinn is more abhorrent and malicious than the sam'ama' of humans;

وفي حديث علي: سمعمع كأنني من جن أي سريع خفيف، وهو في وصف الذئب أشهر.

And in the narration of Ali: 'Sam'ama' as if I were from the jinn', meaning swift and light, and it is more common in the description of a wolf.

وامرأة سمعمعة: كأنها غول أو ذئبة؛ حدث عوانة أن المغيرة سأل ابن لسان الحمرة عن النساء فقال: النساء أربع: فربيع مربع، وجميع تجمع، وشيطان سمعمع، ويروى: سمع، وغل لا يخلع، فقال: فسر، قال: الربيع المربع الشابة الجميلة التي إذا نظرت إليها سرتك وإذا أقسمت عليها أبرتك، وأما الجميع التي تجمع فالمرأة تتزوجها ولك نشب ولها نشب فتجمع ذلك، وأما الشيطان السمعمع فهي الكالحة في وجهك إذا دخلت المولولة في إثرك إذا خرجت.

And a sam'amah woman: as if she were a ghoul or a she-wolf; Uwanah narrated that Al-Mughirah asked Ibn Lisan Al-Humrah about women, and he said: Women are four: a blooming spring, a gatherer, a sam'amah devil, and it is narrated: sam', and an unyielding evil. He said: Explain. He said: The blooming spring is a beautiful young woman who pleases you when you look at her and fulfills your oaths when you swear by her. As for the gatherer, she is a woman you marry, you have kinship and she has kinship, and she brings them together. As for the sam'amah devil, she is the one who frowns in your face when you enter and follows you when you leave.

والرأس السمعمع: الصغير الخفيف.

And the sam'ama' head: small and light.

وقال بعضهم: غول سمع خفيف الرأس؛ وأنشد شمر: فليست بإنسان فينفع عقله، ... ولكنها غول من الجن سمع

And some of them said: a ghoul, sam', light-headed; and Shamir recited: She is not human whose intellect benefits, ... but she is a ghoul from the jinn, sam'.

وفي حديث سفيان بن نبيح الهذلي: ورأسه متمرق الشعر سمعمع أي لطيف الرأس.

And in the narration of Sufyan ibn Nabeh Al-Hudhali: And his head with thinning hair was sam'ama', meaning light-headed.

والسمعمع والسمسام من الرجال: الطويل الدقيق، وامرأة سمعمعة وسمسامة.

And as-sam'ama' and as-samsam among men: the tall and thin, and a woman sam'amah and samsamah.

ومسمع: أبو قبيلة يقال لهم المسامعة، دخلت فيه الهاء للنسب.

And Masma': the father of a tribe called Al-Musami'ah, the 'ha' was added for lineage.

وقال اللحياني: المسامعة من تيم اللات.

And Al-Lihyani said: Al-Musami'ah are from Taym Al-Lat.

ودير سمعان: موضع.

And Dayr Sim'an: a place.