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صبن

Root entry · 5 derived lemmas

The root صبن (ṣabana) primarily relates to concealing, withholding, or diverting something. It extends to actions of balancing or manipulating objects, particularly in games of chance, and also includes a derived term for soap, though its Arabic origin is debated.

Derived headwords

صَبَنَverb
  1. 1.
    to concealboth

    To hide something, such as a coin, in one's hand without others noticing.

  2. 2.
    to divertclassical

    To turn something away or divert it from its intended recipient or course.

  3. 3.
    to balanceclassical

    To make two things equal or level, especially in one's hand.

  4. 4.
    to manipulateclassical

    To skillfully handle or manipulate dice in a game of chance.

صَبْنnoun
  1. 1.
    concealmentclassical

    The act of hiding something in one's hand.

  2. 2.
    diversionclassical

    The act of diverting or withholding something.

  3. 3.
    balancingclassical

    The act of making two things equal or level.

تَصَبَّنَverb
  1. 1.
    to withholdclassical

    To refrain from giving or to withhold a kindness or gift.

الصَّابُونnoun
  1. 1.
    soapmodern

    The substance used for washing clothes and other items.

الصَّبْنَاءnoun
  1. 1.
    deceptionclassical

    The act of a gambler tilting dice in their hand to cheat their opponent.

Parallel reading

صَبَنَ الرجلُ: خبأ شيئا كالدرهم وغيره في كفه ولا يفطن به.
A man 'ṣabana': he hid something like a dirham or other in his hand without it being noticed.
و}_{ ext{صبن}} الساقي الكأس ممن هو أحق بها: صرفها
And the cupbearer 'ṣabana' the cup from one who was more deserving of it: he diverted it.
صبنت الكأس عنا، أم عمرو، ... وكان الكأس مجراها اليمينا
You diverted the cup from us, Umm Amr, ... and the cup's course was to the right.
صبنت عنا الهدية، بالصاد، تصبن صبنا، وكذلك كل معروف بمعنى كففت
You 'ṣabanta' the gift from us, with the letter ṣād, you 'taṣbunu' 'ṣabnan', and likewise every kindness in the sense of withholding.
وقيل: هو إذا صرفته إلى غيره
And it was said: it is when you divert it to someone else.
تأويل هذا الحرف صرف الهدية أو المعروف عن جيرانك ومعارفك إلى غيرهم.
The interpretation of this word is diverting a gift or kindness from your neighbors and acquaintances to others.
صبن القدحين يصبنهما صبنا: سواهما في كفه ثم ضرب بهما
He 'ṣabana' the two cups, he 'yaṣbunuhumā' 'ṣabnan': he leveled them in his hand then struck with them.
وإذا سوى المقامر الكعبين في الكف ثم ضرب بهما فقد صبن.
And when the gambler levels the dice in his hand then strikes with them, he has 'ṣabana'.
أجل ولا تصبن.
Yes, and do not 'taṣbun'.
الصَّبْنَاء كف المقامر إذا أمالها ليغدر بصاحبه
The 'al-ṣabnā'' is the gambler's cupping of dice when he tilts them to cheat his companion.
لا تصبن لا تصبن فإنه طرف من الضغو
Do not 'taṣbun', do not 'taṣbun', for it is a form of 'al-ḍaghw'.
يقال: ضغا إذا لم يعدل.
It is said: 'ḍaghā' means to not be fair.
الصابون: الذي تغسل به الثياب معروف
Al-ṣābūn: that which is used to wash clothes is known.
ليس من كلام العرب.
It is not from the speech of the Arabs.