ستذ

Root entry · 3 derived lemmas

This entry discusses the Arabic word 'الأستاذ' (al-ustādh), tracing its origins and various meanings. It explores its etymology, noting it as a non-Arabic loanword, and details its usage in classical and common parlance, ranging from a master craftsman or teacher to a term of endearment or even a euphemism.

Derived headwords

أُسْتَاذnoun

1.
master, expertboth
A person who is highly skilled and proficient in a particular craft or field.
2.
teacher, tutorboth
Someone who educates or instructs, especially younger students.
3.
term of endearmentclassical
A title used to address someone greatly admired or loved.
4.
euphemism for eunuchclassical
A euphemistic term used by the common people, likely due to the association with educating children.

يُؤَدِّبverb

1.
to discipline, to educateboth
To instruct, train, or discipline, especially children.

أَدَّبَverb

1.
to discipline, to educateboth
To instruct, train, or discipline, especially children.

Parallel reading

واستدرك شيخنا لفظ الأستاذ، وهو من الألفاظ الدائرة المشهورة التي ينبغي التعرض لها وإيضاحها وإن كان عجميا

And our shaykh added the word 'al-ustādh', which is among the circulating and famous words that should be addressed and clarified, even though it is non-Arabic.

وكون الهمزة أصلا هو الذي يقتضيه صنيع الشهاب الفيومي، لأنه ذكره في الهمزة

And that the hamza is original is what Shihāb al-Fayūmī's work implies, because he mentioned it under the hamza.

الأستاذ: كلمة أعجمية، ومعناها الماهر بالشيء العظيم

'Al-ustādh': a non-Arabic word, and its meaning is the one skilled in a great matter.

ولم يوجد في كلام جاهلي

And it was not found in Jahili poetry.

والعامة تقوله بمعنى الخصي، لأنه يؤدب الصغار غالبا

And the common people use it to mean a eunuch, because he often educates the young.

وقال الحافظ أبو الخطاب بن دحية في كتاب له سماه المطرب في أشعار أهل المغرب: الأستاذ: كلمة ليست بعربية، ولا توجد في الشعر الجاهلي

And Al-Hafiz Abu Al-Khattab bin Dihya said in a book he named 'Al-Muṭrib fi Ash'ār Ahl al-Maghrib': 'Al-ustādh' is a word that is not Arabic, and is not found in Jahili poetry.

واصطلحت العامة إذا عظموا المحبوب أن يخاطبوه بالأستاذ

And the common people agreed to address the beloved as 'al-ustādh' when they revered them.

وإنما أخذوا ذالك من الماهر بصنعته، لأنه ربما كان تحت يده غلمان يؤدبهم، فكأنه أستاذ في حسن الأدب

They took that from the one skilled in his craft, because he might have young boys under his care whom he educates, so he is like a master in good upbringing.

حدثنا به جماعة ببغداد، منهم أبو الفرج بن الجوزي، قال: سمعته من شيخنا اللغوي أبي منصور الجواليقي في كتابه المعرب، من تأليفه، قاله شيخنا

A group told us this in Baghdad, among them Abu Al-Faraj bin Al-Jawzi, who said: I heard it from our linguist shaykh, Abu Mansur Al-Jawaliqi, in his book 'Al-Mu'arrab', which he authored, our shaykh said.

قلت: ومما يستدرك عليه

I say: And among what should be added to it.