عَنَتٌ

[verbal noun of 1, q. v.: and also explained as having the following meanings:] Difficulty, hardship, or distress: (A, IAth, Mgh, Msb, TA:) this is [said to be] the primary signification: (Jel in iv. 30:) or severe difficulty, or hardship, or distress: (Zj, TA:) or the coming of difficulty or hardship or distress upon a man. (K.)

A state of perdition or destruction. (A, IAth, K, TA.)

A bad, an evil, or a corrupt, state: or bad, evil, or corrupt, conduct or doing: synonym فَسَادٌ [which has both of these meanings; and may here have the former meaning as nearly agreeing with what precedes it, or the latter meaning as nearly agreeing with what follows it]. (A, IAth, K, TA.)

A sin, a crime, or an act of disobedience deserving punishment; (AHeyth, S, A, IAth, O, K, TA;) and so ↓ مَعْنَتَةٌ. (A.)

A wrong action [intentional or unintentional]; an error; mistake. (IAth, Msb, * TA.)

Fornication, or adultery: (S, IAth, Mgh, O, Msb, K, TA:) but this is a conventional explanation of the lecturers of the colleges. (Mgh.) So in the Qur'an, 4:30, where it is said, ذٰلِكَ لِمَنْ خَشِىَ الْعَنَتَ مِنْكُمْ [That is for him, among you, who fears the commission of fornication]: (S, O, Msb, TA: [and the like is said in the Mgh:]) this, says Az, was revealed in relation to him who might not have the means of taking to wife a free woman; therefore it was allowed to him to take to wife a slave: (Msb, TA:) or the meaning of العنت here is perdition: or perdition in [or by means of] fornication. (TA.)

Also Wrongful, unjust, injurious, or tyrannical, conduct: and annoyance, molestation, harm, or hurt. (AHeyth, TA.) And Distressing, grievous, or afflicting, harm, injury, hurt, or mischief. (TA.)

And according to the 'Ináyeh, Contention; or contention for superiority in greatness: and persistence in opposition, or in vain contention. (TA.)