صُبَابَةٌ

Root: صب

Full Definition

صُبَابَةٌ and صُبَّةٌ A portion, or a small quantity, of water, and of milk, or of wine, or beverage, remaining in a vessel. صُبَابَتِى تُرْوِى وَلَيْسَتْ غِيلَا My remaining portion of water in the vessel &c. satisfies thirst, though it is not water running [copiously] upon the surface of the earth, is a prov., applied to him who makes use of that which is bestowed though it be not much. In the following verse, cited by IAar, وَلَيْلٍ هَدَيْتُ بِهِ فِتْيَةً سُقُوا الكَرَى الأَغْيَدِ [During many a night have I guided in the right way young men infused with the remains of drowsiness that made them to bend their necks from side to side], صُبَاب may be put for صُبَابَة; or it may be pl. of the latter, [or rather a coll. gen. n. of which صُبَابَة is the n. un.,] like as شَعِيرٌ is of شَعِيرَةٌ: the poet uses this word metaphorically, in relation to drowsiness, like as he has used the word سُقُوا. One says also لَمْ أُدْرِكْ مِنَ العَيْشِ إِلَّا صُبَابَةً and إِلَّا صُبَابَاتٍ [I did not attain, or obtain, of life, save a small remainder and small remains].

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