Lane's Arabic-English Lexicon

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صَائِفَةٌ

Root: صيف

Full Definition

صَائِفَةٌ [fem. of صَائفٌ, q. v.
2 Also, as a subst.,] A warring, or warring and plundering, expedition in the صَيْف [i. e. either spring or summer]: pl. صَوَائِفُ. And [particularly] A warring, or warring and plundering, expedition against the Greeks (الرُّوم): because they [i. e. the Arabs] used to go on expeditions of this kind in the صيف, and to return in the winter, on account of the cold and snow. And they said, وَلِىَ فُلَانٌ الصَّائِفَةَ, meaning Such a one was commander of the army going on a warring, or warring and plundering, expedition in the صَيْف: [but Mtr says,] he who explains صَائِفَةٌ as meaning the place [of], or the army [engaged in, such an expedition], errs: [adding that the Hanafee Imám] Mohammad has used the phrase الصَّوَائِفُ وَنَحْوُهَا مِنَ العَسَاكِرِ العِظَامِ either by surmise or by extension of the [proper] meaning.
3 See also صَيْفِىٌّ, in two places.

def.2 Also The time, or season of the صَيْف.
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