LessonsImruʾ al-Qays: The Horse’s Form, Similes, and Wild Quarry (Verses 59–64)Quiz

Lahu is a prepositional expression functioning as a fronted predicate for the description that follows. Aytalā ẓabyin uses the dual aytalā, followed by ẓabyin in an iḍāfah. The alif marks the dual’s nominative form.

Sāqā naʿāmatin provides another dual construction. Irkhāʾ sirḥānin and taqrīb tatfulin each use a verbal noun as muḍāf with the animal name as muḍāf ilayh.

Although the explicit comparison particle ka- is absent, the concentrated attribution of animal qualities creates the effect of an elliptical or emphatic simile.

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Verse 59 grammar: duals and iḍāfah

Imruʾ al-Qays: The Horse’s Form, Similes, and Wild Quarry (Verses 59–64)

Lahu is a prepositional expression functioning as a fronted predicate for the description that follows. Aytalā ẓabyin uses the dual aytalā, followed by ẓabyin in an iḍāfah. The alif marks the dual’s nominative form.

Sāqā naʿāmatin provides another dual construction. Irkhāʾ sirḥānin and taqrīb tatfulin each use a verbal noun as muḍāf with the animal name as muḍāf ilayh.

Although the explicit comparison particle ka- is absent, the concentrated attribution of animal qualities creates the effect of an elliptical or emphatic simile.