زلف
Arabic
Etymology 1
From the root ز ل ف (z-l-f), a variant of the better-known س ل ف (s-l-f).
Verb
زَلَفَ • (zalafa) I, non-past يَزْلُفُ (yazlufu) (archaic)
- to get close, to near, to advance
- 7th century CE, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Buḵāriyy, 2:34:
- إِذَا أَسْلَمَ الْعَبْدُ فَحَسُنَ إِسْلَامُهُ يُكَفِّرُ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ كُلَّ سَيِّئَةٍ كَانَ زَلَفَهَا
- ʾiḏā ʾaslama l-ʿabdu faḥasuna ʾislāmuhu yukaffiru llāhu ʿanhu kulla sayyiʾatin kāna zalafahā
- I someone becomes muslim sincerely then Allah remits all [sins] that he has come near.
-
Conjugation
verbal nouns الْمَصَادِر | زَلْف or زَلَف or زَلِيف zalf or zalaf or zalīf | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
active participle اِسْم الْفَاعِل | زَالِف zālif | |||||||||||
passive participle اِسْم الْمَفْعُول | مَزْلُوف mazlūf | |||||||||||
active voice الْفِعْل الْمَعْلُوم | ||||||||||||
singular الْمُفْرَد | dual الْمُثَنَّى | plural الْجَمْع | ||||||||||
1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم | 2nd person الْمُخَاطَب | 3rd person الْغَائِب | 2nd person الْمُخَاطَب | 3rd person الْغَائِب | 1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم | 2nd person الْمُخَاطَب | 3rd person الْغَائِب | |||||
past (perfect) indicative الْمَاضِي | m | زَلَفْتُ zalaftu | زَلَفْتَ zalafta | زَلَفَ zalafa | زَلَفْتُمَا zalaftumā | زَلَفَا zalafā | زَلَفْنَا zalafnā | زَلَفْتُمْ zalaftum | زَلَفُوا zalafū | |||
f | زَلَفْتِ zalafti | زَلَفَتْ zalafat | زَلَفَتَا zalafatā | زَلَفْتُنَّ zalaftunna | زَلَفْنَ zalafna | |||||||
non-past (imperfect) indicative الْمُضَارِع الْمَرْفُوع | m | أَزْلُفُ ʾazlufu | تَزْلُفُ tazlufu | يَزْلُفُ yazlufu | تَزْلُفَانِ tazlufāni | يَزْلُفَانِ yazlufāni | نَزْلُفُ nazlufu | تَزْلُفُونَ tazlufūna | يَزْلُفُونَ yazlufūna | |||
f | تَزْلُفِينَ tazlufīna | تَزْلُفُ tazlufu | تَزْلُفَانِ tazlufāni | تَزْلُفْنَ tazlufna | يَزْلُفْنَ yazlufna | |||||||
subjunctive الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب | m | أَزْلُفَ ʾazlufa | تَزْلُفَ tazlufa | يَزْلُفَ yazlufa | تَزْلُفَا tazlufā | يَزْلُفَا yazlufā | نَزْلُفَ nazlufa | تَزْلُفُوا tazlufū | يَزْلُفُوا yazlufū | |||
f | تَزْلُفِي tazlufī | تَزْلُفَ tazlufa | تَزْلُفَا tazlufā | تَزْلُفْنَ tazlufna | يَزْلُفْنَ yazlufna | |||||||
jussive الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم | m | أَزْلُفْ ʾazluf | تَزْلُفْ tazluf | يَزْلُفْ yazluf | تَزْلُفَا tazlufā | يَزْلُفَا yazlufā | نَزْلُفْ nazluf | تَزْلُفُوا tazlufū | يَزْلُفُوا yazlufū | |||
f | تَزْلُفِي tazlufī | تَزْلُفْ tazluf | تَزْلُفَا tazlufā | تَزْلُفْنَ tazlufna | يَزْلُفْنَ yazlufna | |||||||
imperative الْأَمْر | m | اُزْلُفْ uzluf | اُزْلُفَا uzlufā | اُزْلُفُوا uzlufū | ||||||||
f | اُزْلُفِي uzlufī | اُزْلُفْنَ uzlufna | ||||||||||
passive voice الْفِعْل الْمَجْهُول | ||||||||||||
singular الْمُفْرَد | dual الْمُثَنَّى | plural الْجَمْع | ||||||||||
1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم | 2nd person الْمُخَاطَب | 3rd person الْغَائِب | 2nd person الْمُخَاطَب | 3rd person الْغَائِب | 1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم | 2nd person الْمُخَاطَب | 3rd person الْغَائِب | |||||
past (perfect) indicative الْمَاضِي | m | زُلِفْتُ zuliftu | زُلِفْتَ zulifta | زُلِفَ zulifa | زُلِفْتُمَا zuliftumā | زُلِفَا zulifā | زُلِفْنَا zulifnā | زُلِفْتُمْ zuliftum | زُلِفُوا zulifū | |||
f | زُلِفْتِ zulifti | زُلِفَتْ zulifat | زُلِفَتَا zulifatā | زُلِفْتُنَّ zuliftunna | زُلِفْنَ zulifna | |||||||
non-past (imperfect) indicative الْمُضَارِع الْمَرْفُوع | m | أُزْلَفُ ʾuzlafu | تُزْلَفُ tuzlafu | يُزْلَفُ yuzlafu | تُزْلَفَانِ tuzlafāni | يُزْلَفَانِ yuzlafāni | نُزْلَفُ nuzlafu | تُزْلَفُونَ tuzlafūna | يُزْلَفُونَ yuzlafūna | |||
f | تُزْلَفِينَ tuzlafīna | تُزْلَفُ tuzlafu | تُزْلَفَانِ tuzlafāni | تُزْلَفْنَ tuzlafna | يُزْلَفْنَ yuzlafna | |||||||
subjunctive الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب | m | أُزْلَفَ ʾuzlafa | تُزْلَفَ tuzlafa | يُزْلَفَ yuzlafa | تُزْلَفَا tuzlafā | يُزْلَفَا yuzlafā | نُزْلَفَ nuzlafa | تُزْلَفُوا tuzlafū | يُزْلَفُوا yuzlafū | |||
f | تُزْلَفِي tuzlafī | تُزْلَفَ tuzlafa | تُزْلَفَا tuzlafā | تُزْلَفْنَ tuzlafna | يُزْلَفْنَ yuzlafna | |||||||
jussive الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم | m | أُزْلَفْ ʾuzlaf | تُزْلَفْ tuzlaf | يُزْلَفْ yuzlaf | تُزْلَفَا tuzlafā | يُزْلَفَا yuzlafā | نُزْلَفْ nuzlaf | تُزْلَفُوا tuzlafū | يُزْلَفُوا yuzlafū | |||
f | تُزْلَفِي tuzlafī | تُزْلَفْ tuzlaf | تُزْلَفَا tuzlafā | تُزْلَفْنَ tuzlafna | يُزْلَفْنَ yuzlafna |
Verb
زَلَّفَ • (zallafa) II, non-past يُزَلِّفُ (yuzallifu) (archaic)
- to do it before, to execute earlier
- to exaggerate, to fudge
Conjugation
verbal noun الْمَصْدَر | تَزْلِيف tazlīf | |||||||||||
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active participle اِسْم الْفَاعِل | مُزَلِّف muzallif | |||||||||||
passive participle اِسْم الْمَفْعُول | مُزَلَّف muzallaf | |||||||||||
active voice الْفِعْل الْمَعْلُوم | ||||||||||||
singular الْمُفْرَد | dual الْمُثَنَّى | plural الْجَمْع | ||||||||||
1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم | 2nd person الْمُخَاطَب | 3rd person الْغَائِب | 2nd person الْمُخَاطَب | 3rd person الْغَائِب | 1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم | 2nd person الْمُخَاطَب | 3rd person الْغَائِب | |||||
past (perfect) indicative الْمَاضِي | m | زَلَّفْتُ zallaftu | زَلَّفْتَ zallafta | زَلَّفَ zallafa | زَلَّفْتُمَا zallaftumā | زَلَّفَا zallafā | زَلَّفْنَا zallafnā | زَلَّفْتُمْ zallaftum | زَلَّفُوا zallafū | |||
f | زَلَّفْتِ zallafti | زَلَّفَتْ zallafat | زَلَّفَتَا zallafatā | زَلَّفْتُنَّ zallaftunna | زَلَّفْنَ zallafna | |||||||
non-past (imperfect) indicative الْمُضَارِع الْمَرْفُوع | m | أُزَلِّفُ ʾuzallifu | تُزَلِّفُ tuzallifu | يُزَلِّفُ yuzallifu | تُزَلِّفَانِ tuzallifāni | يُزَلِّفَانِ yuzallifāni | نُزَلِّفُ nuzallifu | تُزَلِّفُونَ tuzallifūna | يُزَلِّفُونَ yuzallifūna | |||
f | تُزَلِّفِينَ tuzallifīna | تُزَلِّفُ tuzallifu | تُزَلِّفَانِ tuzallifāni | تُزَلِّفْنَ tuzallifna | يُزَلِّفْنَ yuzallifna | |||||||
subjunctive الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب | m | أُزَلِّفَ ʾuzallifa | تُزَلِّفَ tuzallifa | يُزَلِّفَ yuzallifa | تُزَلِّفَا tuzallifā | يُزَلِّفَا yuzallifā | نُزَلِّفَ nuzallifa | تُزَلِّفُوا tuzallifū | يُزَلِّفُوا yuzallifū | |||
f | تُزَلِّفِي tuzallifī | تُزَلِّفَ tuzallifa | تُزَلِّفَا tuzallifā | تُزَلِّفْنَ tuzallifna | يُزَلِّفْنَ yuzallifna | |||||||
jussive الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم | m | أُزَلِّفْ ʾuzallif | تُزَلِّفْ tuzallif | يُزَلِّفْ yuzallif | تُزَلِّفَا tuzallifā | يُزَلِّفَا yuzallifā | نُزَلِّفْ nuzallif | تُزَلِّفُوا tuzallifū | يُزَلِّفُوا yuzallifū | |||
f | تُزَلِّفِي tuzallifī | تُزَلِّفْ tuzallif | تُزَلِّفَا tuzallifā | تُزَلِّفْنَ tuzallifna | يُزَلِّفْنَ yuzallifna | |||||||
imperative الْأَمْر | m | زَلِّفْ zallif | زَلِّفَا zallifā | زَلِّفُوا zallifū | ||||||||
f | زَلِّفِي zallifī | زَلِّفْنَ zallifna | ||||||||||
passive voice الْفِعْل الْمَجْهُول | ||||||||||||
singular الْمُفْرَد | dual الْمُثَنَّى | plural الْجَمْع | ||||||||||
1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم | 2nd person الْمُخَاطَب | 3rd person الْغَائِب | 2nd person الْمُخَاطَب | 3rd person الْغَائِب | 1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم | 2nd person الْمُخَاطَب | 3rd person الْغَائِب | |||||
past (perfect) indicative الْمَاضِي | m | زُلِّفْتُ zulliftu | زُلِّفْتَ zullifta | زُلِّفَ zullifa | زُلِّفْتُمَا zulliftumā | زُلِّفَا zullifā | زُلِّفْنَا zullifnā | زُلِّفْتُمْ zulliftum | زُلِّفُوا zullifū | |||
f | زُلِّفْتِ zullifti | زُلِّفَتْ zullifat | زُلِّفَتَا zullifatā | زُلِّفْتُنَّ zulliftunna | زُلِّفْنَ zullifna | |||||||
non-past (imperfect) indicative الْمُضَارِع الْمَرْفُوع | m | أُزَلَّفُ ʾuzallafu | تُزَلَّفُ tuzallafu | يُزَلَّفُ yuzallafu | تُزَلَّفَانِ tuzallafāni | يُزَلَّفَانِ yuzallafāni | نُزَلَّفُ nuzallafu | تُزَلَّفُونَ tuzallafūna | يُزَلَّفُونَ yuzallafūna | |||
f | تُزَلَّفِينَ tuzallafīna | تُزَلَّفُ tuzallafu | تُزَلَّفَانِ tuzallafāni | تُزَلَّفْنَ tuzallafna | يُزَلَّفْنَ yuzallafna | |||||||
subjunctive الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب | m | أُزَلَّفَ ʾuzallafa | تُزَلَّفَ tuzallafa | يُزَلَّفَ yuzallafa | تُزَلَّفَا tuzallafā | يُزَلَّفَا yuzallafā | نُزَلَّفَ nuzallafa | تُزَلَّفُوا tuzallafū | يُزَلَّفُوا yuzallafū | |||
f | تُزَلَّفِي tuzallafī | تُزَلَّفَ tuzallafa | تُزَلَّفَا tuzallafā | تُزَلَّفْنَ tuzallafna | يُزَلَّفْنَ yuzallafna | |||||||
jussive الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم | m | أُزَلَّفْ ʾuzallaf | تُزَلَّفْ tuzallaf | يُزَلَّفْ yuzallaf | تُزَلَّفَا tuzallafā | يُزَلَّفَا yuzallafā | نُزَلَّفْ nuzallaf | تُزَلَّفُوا tuzallafū | يُزَلَّفُوا yuzallafū | |||
f | تُزَلَّفِي tuzallafī | تُزَلَّفْ tuzallaf | تُزَلَّفَا tuzallafā | تُزَلَّفْنَ tuzallafna | يُزَلَّفْنَ yuzallafna |
Noun
زَلْف • (zalf) m (archaic)
- verbal noun of زَلَفَ (zalafa) (form I)
Declension
Singular | basic singular triptote | ||
---|---|---|---|
Indefinite | Definite | Construct | |
Informal | زَلْف zalf | الزَّلْف az-zalf | زَلْف zalf |
Nominative | زَلْفٌ zalfun | الزَّلْفُ az-zalfu | زَلْفُ zalfu |
Accusative | زَلْفًا zalfan | الزَّلْفَ az-zalfa | زَلْفَ zalfa |
Genitive | زَلْفٍ zalfin | الزَّلْفِ az-zalfi | زَلْفِ zalfi |
Noun
زَلَف • (zalaf) m (archaic)
- verbal noun of زَلَفَ (zalafa) (form I)
- grovelling, flattery by coming close in a respect
Declension
Singular | basic singular triptote | ||
---|---|---|---|
Indefinite | Definite | Construct | |
Informal | زَلَف zalaf | الزَّلَف az-zalaf | زَلَف zalaf |
Nominative | زَلَفٌ zalafun | الزَّلَفُ az-zalafu | زَلَفُ zalafu |
Accusative | زَلَفًا zalafan | الزَّلَفَ az-zalafa | زَلَفَ zalafa |
Genitive | زَلَفٍ zalafin | الزَّلَفِ az-zalafi | زَلَفِ zalafi |
Noun
زُلَف • (zulaf) pl (archaic)
- plural of زُلْفَة (zulfa)
Etymology 2
Borrowed from Classical Syriac ܙܠܦܐ (zalpā, zelpā), singulative ܙܠܦܬܐ (zlap̄ṯă, zelpǝṯā, “shard; mother of pearl”).
Noun
زَلَف or زِلْف • (zalaf or zilf) m (collective, singulative زَلَفة f (zalafa) or زِلْفَة f (zilfa)) (obsolete)
- mother-of-pearl-shell
- 7th century CE, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 54:134:
- ثُمَّ يُرْسِلُ اللّٰهُ مَطَرًا لَا يَكُنُّ مِنْهُ بَيْتُ مَدَرٍ وَلَا وَبَرٍ فَيَغْسِلُ الأَرْضَ حَتَّى يَتْرُكَهَا كَالزَّلَفَةِ
- ṯumma yursilu llāhu maṭaran lā yakunnu minhu baytu madarin walā wabarin fayaḡsilu l-ʾarḍa ḥattā yatrukahā ka-z-zalafati
- Then God will send rain and there will be no brickhouse and no tent and he washes the earth, so that he leaves it blank like a nacre-shell.
-
Declension
Collective | basic collective triptote | ||
---|---|---|---|
Indefinite | Definite | Construct | |
Informal | زَلَف; زِلْف zalaf; zilf | الزَّلَف; الزِّلْف az-zalaf; az-zilf | زَلَف; زِلْف zalaf; zilf |
Nominative | زَلَفٌ; زِلْفٌ zalafun; zilfun | الزَّلَفُ; الزِّلْفُ az-zalafu; az-zilfu | زَلَفُ; زِلْفُ zalafu; zilfu |
Accusative | زَلَفًا; زِلْفًا zalafan; zilfan | الزَّلَفَ; الزِّلْفَ az-zalafa; az-zilfa | زَلَفَ; زِلْفَ zalafa; zilfa |
Genitive | زَلَفٍ; زِلْفٍ zalafin; zilfin | الزَّلَفِ; الزِّلْفِ az-zalafi; az-zilfi | زَلَفِ; زِلْفِ zalafi; zilfi |
Singulative | singulative triptote in ـَة (-a) | ||
Indefinite | Definite | Construct | |
Informal | زَلَفَة; زِلْفَة zalafa; zilfa | الزَّلَفَة; الزِّلْفَة az-zalafa; az-zilfa | زَلَفَة; زِلْفَة zalafat; zilfat |
Nominative | زَلَفَةٌ; زِلْفَةٌ zalafatun; zilfatun | الزَّلَفَةُ; الزِّلْفَةُ az-zalafatu; az-zilfatu | زَلَفَةُ; زِلْفَةُ zalafatu; zilfatu |
Accusative | زَلَفَةً; زِلْفَةً zalafatan; zilfatan | الزَّلَفَةَ; الزِّلْفَةَ az-zalafata; az-zilfata | زَلَفَةَ; زِلْفَةَ zalafata; zilfata |
Genitive | زَلَفَةٍ; زِلْفَةٍ zalafatin; zilfatin | الزَّلَفَةِ; الزِّلْفَةِ az-zalafati; az-zilfati | زَلَفَةِ; زِلْفَةِ zalafati; zilfati |
Dual | Indefinite | Definite | Construct |
Informal | زَلَفَتَيْن; زِلْفَتَيْن zalafatayn; zilfatayn | الزَّلَفَتَيْن; الزِّلْفَتَيْن az-zalafatayn; az-zilfatayn | زَلَفَتَيْ; زِلْفَتَيْ zalafatay; zilfatay |
Nominative | زَلَفَتَانِ; زِلْفَتَانِ zalafatāni; zilfatāni | الزَّلَفَتَانِ; الزِّلْفَتَانِ az-zalafatāni; az-zilfatāni | زَلَفَتَا; زِلْفَتَا zalafatā; zilfatā |
Accusative | زَلَفَتَيْنِ; زِلْفَتَيْنِ zalafatayni; zilfatayni | الزَّلَفَتَيْنِ; الزِّلْفَتَيْنِ az-zalafatayni; az-zilfatayni | زَلَفَتَيْ; زِلْفَتَيْ zalafatay; zilfatay |
Genitive | زَلَفَتَيْنِ; زِلْفَتَيْنِ zalafatayni; zilfatayni | الزَّلَفَتَيْنِ; الزِّلْفَتَيْنِ az-zalafatayni; az-zilfatayni | زَلَفَتَيْ; زِلْفَتَيْ zalafatay; zilfatay |
Paucal (3-10) | sound feminine paucal | ||
Indefinite | Definite | Construct | |
Informal | زَلَفَات; زِلْفَات zalafāt; zilfāt | الزَّلَفَات; الزِّلْفَات az-zalafāt; az-zilfāt | زَلَفَات; زِلْفَات zalafāt; zilfāt |
Nominative | زَلَفَاتٌ; زِلْفَاتٌ zalafātun; zilfātun | الزَّلَفَاتُ; الزِّلْفَاتُ az-zalafātu; az-zilfātu | زَلَفَاتُ; زِلْفَاتُ zalafātu; zilfātu |
Accusative | زَلَفَاتٍ; زِلْفَاتٍ zalafātin; zilfātin | الزَّلَفَاتِ; الزِّلْفَاتِ az-zalafāti; az-zilfāti | زَلَفَاتِ; زِلْفَاتِ zalafāti; zilfāti |
Genitive | زَلَفَاتٍ; زِلْفَاتٍ zalafātin; zilfātin | الزَّلَفَاتِ; الزِّلْفَاتِ az-zalafāti; az-zilfāti | زَلَفَاتِ; زِلْفَاتِ zalafāti; zilfāti |
References
- Ullmann, Manfred (1992) Das Motiv des Spiegels in der arabischen Literatur des Mittelalters (Abhandlungen der Akademie der Wissenschaften in Göttingen: Philologisch-historische Klasse; 198) (in German), Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, page 22–24, he notes and definitely proves with poet citations that the other meanings given in the dictionaries are imaginary.
- “zlph”, in The Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon Project, Cincinnati: Hebrew Union College, 1986–
Persian
Etymology
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.) Compare زلفین (zolfin), زرفین (zorfin), which last has also been borrowed in Arabic زُرْفِين (zurfīn, “ring; bolt or ring of a door; column capital particularly with volutes”), زُرُّوف (zurrūf, “curl in the hair”), denominal زَرْفَنَ (zarfana, “to crook, to make curly; to mark with a figure of a ring or curl”).
Noun
زلف • (zolf)
- curl, tress
- تیره زلف ― tire zolf ― dark hair
- c. 800 CE, Firooz :
- سرو سیمین ترا در مشک تر
زلف فرخالت ز سر تا پا گرفت
- سرو سیمین ترا در مشک تر
Derived terms
- زلف بافته (zolf bâfte, “a braid”)
Descendants
- → Armenian: զըլիֆ (zəlif), զիլիֆ (zilif), զուլֆ (zulf), զյուլֆ (zyulf)
- → Azerbaijani: zülf
- → Bengali: জুলফি (zulfi)
- → Hindustani:
- Hindi: ज़ुल्फ़ (zulf)
- Urdu: زلف
- → Northern Kurdish: zulf, zilf, zilif
- → Ottoman Turkish: زلف (zülüf, zülf)
- Turkish: zülüf
- → Romanian: zuluf
- → Crimean Tatar: zuluf
References
- Dehkhoda, Ali-Akbar (1931–), “زلف”, in Dehkhoda Dictionary Institute, editors, Dehkhoda Dictionary (in Persian), Tehran: University of Tehran Press
- Steingass, Francis Joseph (1892), “زلف”, in A Comprehensive Persian–English dictionary, London: Routledge & K. Paul
- Vullers, Johann August (1855), “زلف”, in Lexicon Persico-Latinum etymologicum cum linguis maxime cognatis Sanscrita et Zendica et Pehlevica comparatum, e lexicis persice scriptis Borhâni Qâtiu, Haft Qulzum et Bahâri agam et persico-turcico Farhangi-Shuûrî confectum, adhibitis etiam Castelli, Meninski, Richardson et aliorum operibus et auctoritate scriptorum Persicorum adauctum (in Latin), volume I, Bonn: Adolf Marcus, page 138