حِيلَةٌ

1.
, (S, M, Msb, K, &c.,) originally حِوْلَةٌ, (Er-Rághib, TA,) [said to be a verbal noun, (see 8,)] and حَوْلٌ (S, M, K) and حَيْلٌ and حِوَلٌ, (M, K,) which is also a plural of the first, (K,) and حَوْلَةٌ (K) and حُولَةٌ (Ks, TA) and حَوِيلٌ (M, K) and حَايءِلَةٌ (Ham p. 652) and مَحَالَةٌ (S, K) and مَحَالٌ, (M, K,) [said to be a verbal noun, (see 8,)] and مَحِيلَةٌ, (Sgh, TA,) i. q. اِحْتِيَالٌ and تَحَوُّلٌ and تَحَيُّلٌ; (M, K; [see 8;]) [or A mode, or manner, of changing from one state to another, or of shifting from one thing to another; حِيلَةٌ being of the measure فِعْلَةٌ from حَالَ, like جِلْسَةٌ &c. from جَلَسَ &c.; or from تَحَوُّلٌ as synonym with حَالَ; (see what follows;) a mode, or means, of evading or eluding a thing, or of effecting an object; an evasion or elusion, a shift, a wile, an artifice, or artful contrivance or device, a machination, a trick, a plot, a stratagem, or an expedient;] a means of effecting one's transition from that which he dislikes to that which he likes; (KT, in explanation of the first word;) art, artifice, cunning, ingenuity, or skill, (Msb, K,) in the management of affairs; i. e. the turning over, or revolving, thoughts, ideas, schemes, or contrivances, in the mind, so as to find a way of attaining one's object; (Msb;) and excellence of consideration or deliberation; and ability to manage according to one's own free will, (K, TA,) with subtilty: (TA:) according to Er-Rághib, حِيلَةٌ signifies a means of attaining to some state concealedly; and it is mostly used of that in which is sin, or offence, or disobedience; but sometimes of that in the exercise of which is wisdom; and hence God is described as شَدِيدُ المَحَالِ, meaning strong in attaining, concealedly from men, to that in which is wisdom: according to Abu-l-Bakà, it is from التَّحَوُّلُ; because by it one shifts from one state to another, by a species of forecast, and gentleness, or delicacy, so as to change a thing from its outward appearance: (TA:) the plural of حِيلَةٌ is حِوَلٌ and حِيَلٌ [which latter is the most common form, and also, as well as حِوَلٌ, said to be synonym with the singular,] and حِيلَاتٌ. (K.) One says, لَا حِيلَةَ لَهُ [He has no mode, or means, of evading &c.]. (TA.) [And مَا بِيَدِى حِيلَةٌ I have no mode, or means, of evading &c.]. And المَرْءُ يَعْجِزُ لَا مَحَالَةَ [Man becomes impotent: there is no avoiding it]. (S.) مِنْهُ لَا مَحَالَةَ means لَا بُدَّ [There is no avoiding it, or escaping it]. (S, * K.) One says, المَوْتُ اتٍ لَا مَحَالَةَ [Death comes: there is no avoiding it]. (S.) See also حِوَلٌ.
2.
And see حُولَةٌ:
3.
and حَوْلٌ.
4.
[عِلْمُ الحِيَلِ The science of mechanics.]

Perseus ID: n9590