ابهم

, (K,) verbal noun إِبْهَامٌ, (JK,) (assumed tropical:) It (a thing, or an affair,) was, or became, dubious, confused, or vague, (JK, K, TA,) so that one knew not the way, or manner, in which it should be engaged in, done, executed, or performed; (JK, TA;) as also ↓ استبهم; (JK, K, TA;) for which grammarians often use ↓ انبهم; but this has not been heard in the [classical] language of the Arabs: (MF, TA:) [said to be] from بَهِيمٌ denoting a colour, whatever it be, except that which is termed شُهْبَة, in which is no colour differing therefrom. (Har p. 50.)

-A2- He closed, or locked, a door; (S, Mgh, TA;) [or, so that one could not find the way to open it; (see مُبْهَمٌ;)] and stopped it up. (TA.) [And hence,] one says of the thumb, تُبْهِمُ الكَفَّ, meaning It closes upon [the palm of] the hand, as a cover. (TA.)

[Hence also,] (assumed tropical:) He made a thing, or an affair, to be dubious, confused, or vague, (JK, TA, *) so that there was no way, or manner, of knowing it, (TA,) or so that one knew not the way, or manner, in which it should be engaged in, done, executed, or performed: (JK:) [in the former sense, or meaning (assumed tropical:) he made it to be dubious, confused, or vague,] said of speech, or language, (K in article غمض, &c.,) and of information, or news, or a narration; (Msb;) contr. of أَوْضَحَ; (TA in article غمض;) i. q. لمْ يُبَيِّنْ. (Msb.)

(assumed tropical:) He made, or held, a thing to be vague, or indefinite. (Mgh.)

And, said of a prohibited thing, (assumed tropical:) He made it, or held it, to be not allowable in any manner, nor for any cause: (Az, TA:) or to be prohibited unconditionally. (Mgh.) [See مُبْهَمٌ.]

(assumed tropical:) He made a man to turn away, or withdraw, or retire, (JK, K,) عَنْ كَذَا from such a thing, (JK,) or عَنِ الأَمْرِ from the affair. (K.)

-A3- ابهمت الأَرْضُ The land produced what is termed بُهْمَى: (JK, K:) or produced much thereof. (S.)