رُتْبَةٌ
1.
A single step of stairs or of a ladder; (MA;) [and so
مَرْتَبَةٌ, as appears from what follows:] plural of the former رُتَبٌ (MA) [and رُتَبَاتٌ, for Az says that] رُتْبَةٌ signifies one of the
رُتَبَات
of stairs: (T:) [the plural of مَرْتَبَةٌ is مَرَاتِبُ.] You say, رَقِىَ فِى رُتَبِ الدَّرَجِ and
مَرَاتِبِهَا [He ascended the steps of the stairs]. (A.)
2.
[Hence,] also, (S, M, A, * Msb, K,) and
مَرْتَبَةٌ, (T, S, M, A, K, TA,) [or] from رَتَبَ signifying “ he stood erect, ” (TA,) (tropical:) A station, or standing; a post of honour; rank; condition; degree; dignity; or office; (T, S, M, A, Msb, K, TA;) with, or at the courts of, kings; and the like: (T, TA:) or a high station, &c.: (TA:) plural of the former رُتَبٌ; (A, * Msb, TA;) and of the latter
مَرَاتِبُ. (A, TA.) You say, هُوَ فِى أَعْلَى الرُّتَبِ (tropical:) [He is in the highest of stations, &c.]: and عِنْدَ
لَهُ مَرْتَبَةٌ
السُّلْطَانِ (tropical:) [He has a station, &c., or high station, &c., with, or at the court of, the Sultán]: and
هُوَ مِنْ أَهْلِ المَرَاتِبِ (tropical:) [He is of the people of high stations, &c.]. (A, TA.)
3.
[رُتْبَةٌ also signifies The order of the proper relative places of things; as, for instance, of the words in a sentence.]
4.
See also the plural رُتَبٌ in the next preceding paragraph.