رَافِدٌ

[act. particle n. of رَفَدَ; Giving, or giving a gift: and aiding, &c.]: plural [رَافِدُونَ and] رُفَّدٌ. (TA.) You say, فُلَانٌ نِعْمَ الرَّافِدُ إِذَا حَلَّ بِهِ الوَافِدُ [Such a one is an excellent, or a most excellent, giver, or aider, when the comer alights at his abode]. (A, TA.) And أَعْطَى زَكَاةَ مَالِهِ طَيِّبَةً بِهَا نَفْسُهُ رَافِدَةً عَلَيْهِ He gave the portion of his property that was due as the poor-rate, his soul being well pleased, or content, therewith, aiding him to do so. (L.)

One who is next in station to a king, [who aids him,] and who, when the latter is absent, occupies his place. (IB.)

(tropical:) A river that flows into, and augments, another river: you say نَهْرٌ لَهُ رَافِدَانِ (tropical:) A river that has two rivers flowing into it, and augmenting it. (A.) Hence, (A,) الرَّافِدَانِ is an appellation applied to (tropical:) The Tigris and Euphrates. (S, M, A, K.)

[Hence,] one says also, فُلَانٌ يَمْدُّ البَرِيَّةَ رَافِدَاهُ (tropical:) Such a one's two hands or arms [afford aid, or succour, to mankind]. (A.)