عِرْفٌ

, with kesr, is from the saying, مَا عَرَفَ عِرْفِى إِلَّا بِأَخَرَةٍ, (S, O,) which means He did not know me save at the last, or lastly, or latterly. (S, O, K.)

And it signifies Patience. (IAar, O, K.) A poet says, (namely Aboo-Dahbal ElJumahee, TA,)

قُلْ لِابْنِ قَيْسٍ أَخِى الرُّقَيَّاتِ

مَا أَحْسَنَ العِرْفَ فِى المُصِيبَاتِ

[Say thou to the son of Keys, the brother of Er-Rukeiyat, How good is patience in afflictions!]. (IAar, O, TA.)