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ه ن ف

Root entry · 13 derived lemmas

This root primarily describes a specific type of laughter, often characterized by weakness, mockery, or feigned emotion. It also extends to meanings of haste, preparation for crying, and sometimes playful interaction.

Derived headwords

الإهنافnoun
  1. 1.
    laughter in weaknessclassical

    A type of laughter characterized by weakness or feebleness, specifically attributed to women.

مهانفةnoun
  1. 1.
    mocking laughterclassical

    Laughter resembling that of a mocker, characterized by weakness.

  2. 2.
    playfulnessclassical

    Playful interaction or dalliance.

تهانفnoun
  1. 1.
    mocking laughterclassical

    Laughter characterized by mockery and weakness, similar to 'مهانفة'.

  2. 2.
    cryingclassical

    The act of crying, particularly when it resembles the crying of children.

هانفverb
  1. 1.
    to laugh weakly/mockinglyclassical

    To laugh with weakness or in a mocking manner.

الهنافnoun
  1. 1.
    weak laughterclassical

    A type of laughter described as weak or feeble, sometimes associated with women.

  2. 2.
    smilingclassical

    A slight smile or a gentle expression of amusement.

تَهَنَّفَverb
  1. 1.
    to cryclassical

    To cry, especially with a sound that might be mistaken for a child's crying.

الإهتافnoun
  1. 1.
    hasteclassical

    The act of moving or acting quickly, in a hurry.

  2. 2.
    preparing to cryclassical

    The state of a child preparing to cry, similar to 'إجهاش'.

هنّفverb
  1. 1.
    to hastenclassical

    To move or act quickly, to hasten towards something.

مهنّفadjective
  1. 1.
    hasteningclassical

    Moving or acting quickly; in a hurry.

تهنيفاnoun
  1. 1.
    hasteningclassical

    The act of hastening or moving quickly.

الهنوفnoun
  1. 1.
    loud laughterclassical

    A type of laughter that is more than a smile but less than boisterous laughter.

تهانف بهverb
  1. 1.
    to marvel atclassical

    To express astonishment or wonder at something.

الرناnoun
  1. 1.
    amusementclassical

    Play or amusement, often in the context of lighthearted activity.

Parallel reading

الإهناف خاص بالنساء ولا يوصف به الرجال، قاله أبو ليلى، وهو ضحك في فتور، كضحك المستهزيء، كالمهانفة، والتهانف كما في الصحاح
Al-ihnaf is specific to women and not attributed to men, according to Abu Layla, and it is laughter in weakness, like the laughter of a mocker, like al-muhanifah and al-tahanuf, as in Al-Sihah.
مهفهفة الكشحين بيضاء كاعب ... تهانف للجهال منهم وتلعب
Slender-waisted, white, budding... she laughs mockingly at the ignorant among them and plays.
زاد أبو ليلى وكذلك الهناف، ككتاب
Abu Layla added: and likewise al-hanaf, like kitāb.
تغض الجفون على رسلها ... بحسن الهناف، وخون النظر
The eyelids lower over their messages... with the beauty of al-hanaf, and the deceit of the gaze.
وقال الليث: الهناف: مهانفة الجواري بالضحك، وهو التبسم.
And Al-Layth said: Al-hanaf is the laughter of young girls in amusement, which is smiling.
وفي نسخة من كتاب الكامل للمبرد: التهانف: الضحك بالسخرية
And in a copy of Al-Kamil by Al-Mubarrad: Al-tahanuf is mocking laughter.
إذا هن فصلن الحديث لأهله ... حديث الرنا فصلنه بالتهانف
When they (women) discussed the matter with its people... they discussed the amusement with al-tahanuf.
قال أبو ليلى: الرنا هنا: اللهو.
Abu Layla said: Al-rana here means amusement.
والإهتاف: الإسراع، كالتهنيف يقال: أقبل مهنفا، ومهنفا أي مسرعا لينال ما عندي.
And al-ihtaf means hastening, like al-tahnif. It is said: he approached hastening, meaning quickly to get what I have.
وقال الأصمعي: الإهتاف: تهيؤ الصبي للبكاء وهو مثل الإجهاش.
And Al-Asma'i said: Al-ihtaf is the child's preparation for crying, which is like al-ijhash.
قال: والمهانفة: الملاعبة.
He said: And al-muhanifah means playfulness.
الهنوف، بالضم: ضحك فوق التبسم، عن ابن سيده.
Al-hunuf, with dammah, is laughter above smiling, from Ibn Sidah.
وتهانف به: تعجب، عن ثعلب.
And tahanufa bihi means to marvel at it, from Tha'lab.
والتهنف: البكاء قال عنترة بن الأخرس:
And al-tahannuf is crying, said Antarah ibn Al-Akhras:
تكف وتستبقى حياء وهيبة ... لنا ثم يعلو صوتها بالتهنف
She refrains and holds back out of modesty and awe... from us, then her voice rises with crying.
وقد يكون التهانف بكاء غير الطفل، وأنشد ثعلب لأعرابي:
And al-tahanuf can be the crying of someone other than a child, and Tha'lab recited for a Bedouin:
تهانفت واستبكاك رسم المنازل ... بسوقة أهوى، أو بقارة حائل
You cried out and made the ruins of the dwellings cry... for a passing caravan, or for the plateau of Hail.
فهذا هنا إنما هو للرجال دون الأطفال، لأن الأطفال لا تبكي على المنازل.
This (crying) here is for men, not children, because children do not cry over dwellings.