← Back to Al-Sihah

رفن

Root entry · 3 derived lemmas

This root primarily relates to the concept of having a long tail, often used metaphorically for things that are extended or trailing. It also encompasses a derived meaning of initial agitation followed by calmness.

Derived headwords

رَفَنٌadjective
  1. 1.
    long-tailedclassical

    Describing something, particularly an animal, that has a long tail. It is noted as being derived from the root 'رفل' (to trail or drag) with a substitution of 'ن' for 'ل'.

ارفأنّverb
  1. 1.
    to become agitated then calmclassical

    To experience a state of agitation, fear, or nervousness, followed by a return to a state of calmness or settledness. It is an intransitive verb.

ارْفِئْنَانًاnoun
  1. 1.
    agitation then calmnessclassical

    The verbal noun (masdar) of 'ارفأنّ', denoting the process or state of becoming agitated and then settling down.

Parallel reading

فرس رفن، بتشديد النون: طويل الذنب، والأصل رفل باللام.
A long-tailed horse, with a doubled 'nun': having a long tail, and the origin is 'rafala' (to trail) with a 'lam'.
قال النابغة الذبيانى: وهم دلفوا بهجر فيه خميس رحيب السرب أرعن مرجحن بكل مجرب كالليث يسمو إلى أوصال ذيال رفن أراد رفل فحول اللام نونا.
Al-Nabigha al-Dhubyani said: And they proceeded to Hajar, in which was a large, expansive army, a proud, swaying force, with every experienced warrior like a lion, reaching for the limbs of a long-tailed one; he intended 'rafal' but changed the 'lam' to a 'nun'.
وارفأن الرجل ارفئنانا، على وزن اطمأن، أي نفر ثم سكن.
And the man became agitated, then settled, on the pattern of 'iṭma'anna', meaning he became frightened then calm.
يقال: ارفأن غضبي.
It is said: My anger subsided.