عَرِيفٌ

[Hence,] One who knows his companions: plural عُرَفَاءُ. (O, K.) The chief, or head, (Mgh, K, TA,) of a people, or party; (K, TA;) because he knows the states, or conditions, of those over whom he acts as such; (Mgh;) or because he is known as such [so that it is from the same word in the last of the senses assigned to it in this paragraph]; (K;) or because of his acquaintance with the ordering, or management, of them: (TA:) or the نَقِيب [or intendant, superintendent, overseer, or inspector, who takes cognizance of, and is responsible for, the actions of a people], who is below the رَيءِيس: (S, O, K:) or the manager and superintendent of the affairs, who acquaints himself with the circumstances, or a tribe, or of a company of men; of the measure فَعِيلٌ in the sense of the measure فَاعِلٌ: (IAth, TA:) or the orderer, or manager, of the affairs of a people, or party; as also عَارِفٌ: (Msb:) plural as above: (S, IAth, Msb:) it is said that he is over a few persons, and the مَنْكِب is over five عُرَقَاء, then the أَمِير is over these. (Msb.) It is said in a tradition that the عُرَفَاء are in Hell, as a caution against undertaking the office of chief, or head, on account of the trial that is therein; for when one does not perform the duty thereof, he sins, and deserves punishment. (TA.)

[It is now used as meaning A monitor in a school, who hears the lessons of the other scholars.]

See also مَعْرُوفٌ, with which it is synonym