عَهْدٌ

[a verbal noun of 1, q. v.: used as a simple subst.,] An injunction, a charge, a bidding, an order, or a command. (S, A, Mgh, O, Msb, K, TA.) [Pl. in this and other senses عُهُودٌ.] عَهْدِى أَنْ لَا اخُذَ مِنْ رَاضِعٍ شَيْيءًا, occurring in a tradition, is a phrase tropically abridged, meaning (tropical:) It is in the injunction, or charge, prescribed as obligatory on me [that I should not take anything from a suckling]. (Mgh.)

A compact, a contract, a covenant, an agreement, a confederacy, a league, a treaty, an engagement, a bond, an obligation, or a promise: (S, A, Mgh, O, L, Msb, K, TA:) plural عُهُودٌ: or, according to AHeyth, ↓ عَهْدَةٌ has this this meaning, and عَهْدٌ is its plural [or rather a coll. gen. n.]. (TA.) Hence وَلِىُّ عَهْدٍ The suc- cessor by virtue of a covenant of a Khaleefeh [or King]. (TA.) [And وِلَايَةُ عَهْدٍ The succession by virtue of a covenant.]

Protection, or safeguard; a promise, or an assurance, of security or safety; responsibility, or suretiship; synonym أَمَانٌ; and ذِمَّةٌ; (Sh, S, A, O, Msb, K;) and ضَمَانٌ; (O, K;) as also ↓ عُهَّيْدَى [in the O ↓ عُهَيْدَى] and ↓ عِهْدَانٌ [which last is said in the S and O to be synonym with عَهْدٌ, but in what sense is not there specified]. (K.) Hence, ذُو عَهْدٍ, an appel-lation given to a Christian, and a Jew, [and a Sabian, who is a subject of a Muslim government,] meaning One between whom and the Muslims a compact, or covenant, subsists, whereby the latter are responsible for his security [and freedom and toleration] as long as he acts agreeably to the compact [by living peaceably with them and paying a poll-tax]; (Mgh, * Msb, * TA;) [i. e. a free non-Muslim subject of a Muslim government;] as also ↓ مُعَاهِدٌ and ↓ مُعَاهَدٌ, the act. and pass. forms being both applied to such a person because the compact is mutual; (Msb;) both synonym with ذِمِّىٌّ: (S:) persons of this description are called collectively أَهْلُ العَهْدِ. (TA.)

An oath: (S, A, O, K:) plural عُهُودٌ: or, according to AHeyth, ↓ عَهْدَةٌ signifies an oath whereby one secures himself against him with whom he makes a compact, contract, covenant, or the like, and عَهْدٌ is its plural [or rather a coll. gen. n.]. (TA.) [But it is generally used as a singular: hence,] one says, عَلَىَّ عَهْدُ اللّٰهِ لَأَفْعَلَنَّ كَذَا [The oath by attestation of God is binding on me that I will assuredly do such a thing]. (S, O.)

A writ, or diploma, of appointment to the office of a prefect or governor or the like: (S, O, K:) plural عُهُودٌ. (TA.)

Defence of those persons, or things, that should be sacred, or inviolable, or that are entitled to reverence, respect, honour, or defence; (S, A, O, K;) and mindfulness, regard, or observance, (S, K,) of such things, (K,) or of love, or affection; occurring in this sense in a tradition, in which it is said that generosity therein is a point of religion. (S.)

Fulfilment of a promise or the like. (O, K.) So in the Qur'an, 7:100. (O.)

The assertion of the unity of God: whence, إِلَّا مَنِ اتَّخَذَ عِنْدَ الرَّحْمٰنِ عَهْدًا [Except such as hath made a covenant with the Compassionate to assert his unity], (O, K,) in the Qur'an, 19:90: (O:) and the words of a tradition relating to prayer, أَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ I am persevering in the observance of my covenant and promise to Thee to believe in Thee and to assert thy unity incessantly [as far as I am able]. (TA.)

-A2- Also A time; (S, * A, K;) and so ↓ عِهْدَانٌ. (A, TA.) One says, كَانَ عَلَى عَهْدِ فُلَانٍ and ↓ عِهْدَانِهِ It was in the time of such a one. (A.) And كَانَ ذٰلِكَ فِى عَهْدِ شَبَابِى That was in the time of my youth, or young manhood. (TK.) And أَتَى عَلَيْهَا عَهْدٌ طَوِيلٌ [Over which a long time has passed]. (S, in explanation of قَرْيَةٌ عَهِيدَةٌ meaning قَدِيمَةٌ.)

One says also, عَهْدِى بِهِ قَرِيبٌ i. e. My meeting [with him, or it, was a short time ago]. (S, * Msb.) And هُوَ قَرِيبُ العَهْدِ بَكَذَا He knew, or was acquainted with, such a thing, and was in such a state, or condition, recently, or a short time ago. (Msb. [And in like manner one says حَدِيثُ العَهْدِ and حَدِيثُ عَهْدٍ.]) And عَهْدِى بِهِ بِمَوْضِعِ كَذَا, (K, TA,) and فِى حَالِ كَذَا, (TA,) I met, or met with, or I knew, [or I saw,] him, or it, in such a place, (K, TA,) and in such a state, or condition. (TA.) And مَا لِى عَهْدٌ بِهِ [I have not any knowledge of, or acquaintance with, him, or it]. (A.) And مَتَى عَهْدُكَ بِفُلَانٍ When didst thou meet, or meet with, such a one? (Mgh:) or see such a one? (TA.) And مَتَى عَهْدُكَ بِالخُفِّ When didst thou wear the boots? (Mgh.) And مَتَى عَهْدُكَ بِأَسْفَلِ فِيكَ [When didst thou see the lower part of thy mouth?]: a prov.; said in asking a person respecting an old affair of which he has no knowledge. (L.) The saying of the poet, (Aboo-Khirásh El-Hudhalee, TA, and so in a copy of the S,)

فَلَيْسَ كَعَهْدِ الدَّارِ يَا أُمَّ مَالِكٍ

وَلٰكِنْ أَحَاطَتْ بِالرِّقَابِ السَّلَاسِلُ

[And it is not like the formerly-known state of the abode, O Umm-Málik; but chains have surrounded the necks;] is explained as meaning, the case is not as thou knewest it; but El-Islám has come, and has subverted that case. (S, TA.) [Hence, لِلْعَهْدِ and ↓ لِلْمَعْهُودِ, said of the article اَلْ; meaning Used to distinguish a noun as known to the hearer, or reader, in a particular sense.]

-A3- Also A first rain; the rain immediately following which is called وَلْىٌ: (TA:) or the first of the rain called الوَسْمِىُّ; (IAar, M, K;) and so ↓ عَهْدَةٌ and ↓ عِهْدَةٌ and ↓ عِهَادَةٌ, (M, K, TA,) or, as in some copies of the K [and in the CK], ↓ عِهَادٌ, which is plural of عَهْدٌ. (TA.)

And Rain that falls after other rain, (AHn, S, K,) while the moisture of the former yet remains; (AHn, K;) as also ↓ عَهْدَةٌ and ↓ عِهْدَةٌ: (TA:) plural عِهَادٌ and عُهُودٌ: (S:) or عِهَادٌ, according to some, signifies recent rains; apparently from the saying, أَصَابَتْنَا دِيمَةٌ بِعْدَ دِيمَةٍ عَلَى عِهَادٍ غَيْرِ قَدِيمَةٍ [A continuous and still rain fell upon us after a continuous and still rain following upon عهاد not long anterior]: (AHn, TA:) or عِهَادٌ signifies rains of the [season called] رَبِيع [here meaning autumn, as is shown voce نَوْءٌ], after the rain called الوَسْمِىّ: (A:) or weak, fine rain, of that which is called وَسْمِىّ. (IAar, TA.)

And عَامُ العُهُودِ means The year of few rains. (TA.)

-A4- See also عُهْدَةٌ, near the middle, in two places:

-A5- and see مَعْهَدٌ, in three places.