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b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] B. HEBREW 'mdynah' versus ARABIC 'madiynah'

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  • From: Isaac Fried <if AT math.bu.edu>
  • To: Ishinan <ishinan AT comcast.net>
  • Cc: B-Hebrew <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] B. HEBREW 'mdynah' versus ARABIC 'madiynah'
  • Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2013 19:44:28 -0400

The Arabic root MDN has apparently a variant MTN, both corresponding to the 
Aramaic מתן MTN, 'wait', of which we have the המתין ,HI-MTIYN, 'waited', of today.

Also חדר המתנה XADAR HA-MTAN-AH, 'waiting room'. 
Also מתינות MTIN-UT, 'moderation, patience'. 
Also מיתון MIYTUN, slowdown, recession'.

They are possibly all related to אדן ADAN, and אזן AZAN, and אתן ATAN.

Isaac Fried, Boston University

On Apr 28, 2013, at 4:07 PM, Ishinan wrote:

Ishinan:  Dear John, you said: Historically in Arabic  (Arabic /madīna) it doesn't really mean 'city'.
 
I hope you are not insinuating that Arabic 'madiynah' is from the trilateral root dyn. Are you?
 
Actually, Arabic 'madiynah' is from a quite different trilateral root which is 'mdn'  meaning to dwell/to settle (*see definition below). The cardinal mistake often made, is to confuse it with B. Hebrew  'mdiynah', root of dyn' (as in Ezr 2:1) which is a cognate with Arabic 'dyn'.
 
 
Ishinan Ishibashi
 
 
 
*See Lisan al-Arab
مدن (لسان العرب)
مَدَنَ بالمكان: أَقام به، فِعْلٌ مُمات، ومنه المَدِينة، وهي فَعِيلة
 
 
Versus
 
والدَّيَّانُ: القَهَّارُ، والقاضي، والحاكِمُ
 
 




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