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لعف

Root entry · 1 derived lemma

This root appears to describe a specific type of gaze or look, particularly associated with predators like lions or camels. It involves a repeated action of looking, then averting the gaze, and looking again.

Derived headwords

تَلَعَّفَverb
  1. 1.
    to look and avert gaze repeatedlyclassical

    The lion or camel looks, then averts its gaze, then looks again. This describes a hesitant or predatory manner of observing.

Parallel reading

أهملها الليث
Al-Layth omitted it.
وقال ابن دريد في كتابه ولم أجده لغيره
And Ibn Duraid said in his book, and I did not find it attributed to anyone else.
تلعف الأسد والبعير إذا نظر ثم أغضى ثم نظر
The lion and the camel look and avert their gaze, then look again, if they observe.
وإن وجد شاهد لما قاله فهو صحيح
And if a supporting text is found for what he said, then it is correct.