Word definition

Dear classmates

When you look up a word in the dictionary specially in arabic, considering the following points are

useful and can lead to better understanding of their meaning and helps you classify the words in

some manner:

1. A word root can be defined in 3 ways:

  1.1. Limitation/components: e.g. "Ghol" : Expressing+What is in our inner side+ With any possible mean

  1.2. Contrast/by opposites: e.g. "shar" : the opposite of "Kheir" and "Kheir" is sth that you logically prefer

  1.3. With famous/common words: e.g. "Zolfa": is the highest level of "Ghorb" or being close

by this classification you can find the words that are defined in the same manner and also from their definition

you can relate them indirectly. the second function of this classification would be understanding the levels of meaning

and helps in contrasting.

2. According to the context, the word meanings can differ. we have 3 main contexts:

  2.1. Common context

  2.2. Idiomatic / scientific context

  2.3. religious context

neglecting the context may lead to misunderstanding of the meaning. A an example we have the term "Tahriro raghaba"

if you get to study the word meanings neglecting its context you understand "heating the neck!!!!" which doesn't make

sense. But when you realize it is defined in religious context you understand "Freeing slaves".

So context affect the meaning and it should be kept in mind that the word is not separated from its context.

3. The common meaning we understand from a word is the first level and by considering the mentioned points

we can deepen our understandings.