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خُلَّبٌ

Root: خلب

Full Definition

خُلَّبٌ Clouds (سَحَابٌ, S, K, TA) that thunder and lighten, containing no rain: or whereof the lightning flashes slightly, so that one hopes for their raining, but which deceive the expectation, and become dispersed: as though derived from خِلَابَةٌ, the “ deceiving with blandishing speech. ” And البَرْقُ الخُلَّبِ and بَرْقُ خُلَّبٍ and بَرْقُ الخُلَّبِ and بَرْقٌ خُلَّبٌ Lightning with which is no rain; as though deceiving: that excites hope [of rain] and breaks its promise. Hence the saying, to him who promises and does not fulfil his promise, إِنَّمَا أَنْتَ كَبَرْقٍ خُلَّبٍ [Thou art only like lightning with which is no rain] . And فُلَانٌ خُلَّبٌ قُلَّبٌ Such a one is sharp in intellect, clever, ingenious, skilful, knowing, or intelligent.
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