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صءبل

Root entry · 2 derived lemmas

This root appears to relate to a specific, perhaps rare or dialectal, term for a cunning or astute person. It is primarily discussed in relation to variations in pronunciation and usage among different Arab tribes.

Derived headwords

الضَّئْبَلnoun
  1. 1.
    cunning personclassical

    A highly intelligent, astute, or cunning individual, often implying a shrewdness that can be deceptive.

الصَّئْبَلnoun
  1. 1.
    cunning person (dialectal)classical

    The same term as الضئبل, but pronounced with an initial 'ṣād' (ص) instead of 'ḍād' (ض), noted as a dialectal variant.

Parallel reading

الكسائي: الضئبل الداهية
Al-Kisa'i said: Al-ḍa'bal is the cunning one.
ولغة بني ضبة الصئبل
And the dialect of Banu Ḍabba is Al-ṣa'bal.
قال: والضاد أعرف
He said: And the 'ḍād' (ض) is more known.
وأبو عبيدة رواه الضئبل، بالضاد
And Abu Ubaydah narrated it as Al-ḍa'bal, with the 'ḍād' (ض).
قال: ولم أسمعه بالصاد إلا ما جاء به أبو تراب
He said: And I have not heard it with the 'ṣād' (ص) except what Abu Turab brought.