خسا

Root entry · 9 derived lemmas

This root primarily deals with the concept of odd or single numbers, contrasting with even or paired numbers. It extends to meanings of playing games of chance with single or paired items, and metaphorically to uncertainty or lack of clarity.

Derived headwords

خَسَاnoun

1.
odd numberclassical
The odd or single number, as opposed to the even or paired number.
2.
single itemclassical
A single or individual item, often in the context of games.

المَخَاسِيnoun

1.
odd numbersclassical
Plural of 'khassa', referring to odd numbers or single items, often used in games.

تَخَاسَىverb

1.
to play with single/pairedclassical
Two people playing a game involving single (khassa) and paired (zakka) items, like nuts.
2.
to gambleclassical
To gamble or play games of chance, specifically involving the concept of odd or even.

خَسَاverb

1.
to be oddclassical
To be odd or single, in contrast to being even or paired.
2.
to be uncertainclassical
To be unclear or uncertain, like not knowing if something is odd or even.

زَكَاverb

1.
to be evenclassical
To be even or paired, in contrast to being odd or single.

الأَخَاسِيnoun

1.
odd numbersclassical
A plural form referring to odd numbers or single items.

خَاسَيْتُverb

1.
to play odd/even withclassical
To play a game of odd or even with someone, typically using nuts or similar items.

يُخَاسِئُverb

1.
to gambleclassical
To gamble or play games of chance, specifically involving odd or even outcomes.

تَخَاسَتْverb

1.
to be scattered by gravelclassical
Describing the legs of an animal being scattered or thrown about by gravel.

Parallel reading

الفرد، وهي المخاسي جمع على غير قياس كمساو وأخواتها.

The odd, which is 'al-makhasi', a plural formed irregularly like 'masaw' and its counterparts.

وتخاسى الرجلان: تلاعبا بالزوج والفرد.

And the two men played together: they played with the paired and the odd.

خسا أو زكا أي فرد أو زوج

'Khassa' or 'zakka', meaning odd or even.

فخسا فرد وزكا زوج، كما يقال شفع ووتر

So 'khassa' is odd and 'zakka' is even, just as one says 'shafa'' (even) and 'witr' (odd).

لم يدر ما الزاكي من المخاسي

He did not know the even from the odd.

أخاس أم زكا؟

Was it odd or even?

يقول: لا يشعر أفرد هو أم زوج.

He means: he does not know if he is odd or even.

العرب تقول للزوج زكا وللفرد خسا

The Arabs say 'zakka' for even and 'khassa' for odd.

هو يخسي ويزكي أي يلعب فيقول أزوج أم فرد.

He plays 'yukhassi' and 'yuzakki', meaning he plays and says 'even or odd?'.

خاسيت فلانا إذا لاعبته بالجوز فردا أو زوجا

You played 'khassayta' with someone if you played with them using nuts, odd or even.

يعدو على خمس قوائمه زكا أراد: أن هذا الفرس يعدو على خمس من الأتن فيطردها، وقوائمه زكا أي هي أربع.

It runs on five legs, 'zakka' (even). He meant: this horse runs after five female wild donkeys and chases them, and its legs are 'zakka' (even), meaning they are four.

هو يخاسئ يقامر، وإنما ترك همزة خسا إتباعا لزكا

He gambles ('yukhasi'), and the hamza of 'khassa' was omitted in imitation of 'zakka'.

لأدنى خسا أو زكا من سنيك

For the least odd or even of your years.

أخسا أم زكا

Odd or even.

تخاست قوائم الدابة بالحصى أي ترامت به

The animal's legs were scattered by the gravel, meaning they were thrown about by it.

تخاسى يداها بالحصى وترضه بأسمر صراف، إذا حم مطرق

Its legs were scattered by the gravel and it was trampled by a dark, sharp-hoofed [horse], when the hammer struck.