خَصِمٌ

Vehement in altercation or dispute or litigation; (S, K, * TA;) as also ↓ خَصُومٌ: (Ham p. 628:) [or each signifies contentious, disputatious, or litigious:] or the former, knowing, or skilled, in altercation &c., though not practising it: (IB, TA:) or valid, or sound, therein; as also ↓ خَصِيمٌ: (Msb:) or this last signifies one who contends with another in an altercation, disputes with him, or litigates with him: (IB, TA:) the plural of the first is خَصِمُونَ, (K,) occurring in the Qur'an, 43:58; and perhaps أَخْصَامٌ, or this may be a plural of خَصْمٌ. (TA.)