سَبُعَةٌ

and ↓ سَبْعَةٌ, the latter a contraction of the former, The lioness. (ISk, S, Msb, K.) Hence the saying, ↓ أَخَذَهُ أَخَذَ سَبْعَةٍ, (ISk, S, K,) or السَّبْعَةِ, (Msb,) He seized him with the seizing of a lioness, (ISk, S, K,) or of the lioness, (Msb,) which is more impetuous (أَنْزَقُ) than the lion, (ISk, S,) or more bold than the lion: (Msb:) or the saying is, أَخَذَهُ أَخْذَ سَبْعَةَ (S, K) he seized him with the seizing of Seb'ah, who was a certain strong man, (Ibn-El-Kelbee, S,) or a certain insolent and audacious rebel, (Ibn-El-Kelbee, Lth, K,) of the Arabs, (TA,) whom one of the kings of El-Yemen seized, and, after having cut off his hands and feet, or arms and legs, crucified; [so that the meaning is, he punished him with the punishment of Seb'ah;] and hence it was said, لَأُعَذِّبَنَّكَ عَذَابَ سَبْعَةَ [I will assuredly punish thee with the punishment of Seb'ah]; (El-Kelbee, Lth, K; *) and لَأَعْمَلَنَّ بِكَ عَمَلَ سَبْعَةَ I will assuredly do with thee as was done with Seb'ah: (O:) or the man's name was سَبُعٌ, and it was contracted, and made feminine by way of contempt: or the meaning of the first saying is, he seized him with the seizing of seven men: (K:) and in like manner the last saying is explained by some [who say سَبْعَةٍ instead of سَبْعَةَ]. (TA.) The diminutive is ↓ سُبَيْعَةٌ. (Msb.) [See also سَبُعٌ.]