خِدْنٌ

(S, Mgh, Msb, K, &c.) and ↓ خَدِينٌ (S, K) A friend: (S, TA:) or a secret, or private, friend; a friend in secrecy or privacy: (Mgh, Msb, and Ksh and Bd in iv. 29:) or a companion, or an associate, who converses, or talks, with one: (M, TA:) or [simply] a companion, or an associate: (K:) but according to Er-Rághib, mostly used as meaning an amorous companion or associate; a companion, or an associate, affected with sensual appetency: (TA:) the former is applied alike to the male and the female: (Ksh and Bd in v. 7:) and ↓ the latter signifies also one who is thy friend, &c., (مَنْ يُخَادِنُكَ, K,) and who is with thee, (TA,) in every affair, or case, open and secret: (K:) plural (of the former, S, Mgh, Msb) أَخْدَانٌ (S, Mgh, Msb, TA) and [of the latter] خُدَنَاءُ. (TA.) Hence, خِدْنُ الجَارِيَةِ [The friend, &c., of the girl]: (S:) or he who converses, or talks, with the girl. (JK.) It is said in the Qur'an, 4:29, وَلَا مُتَّخِذَاتِ أَخْدَانٍ, (S,) meaning [Nor taking to themselves] friends [or associates] to commit fornication with them in secret. (Jel.) العُلَى ↓ خَدِينُ is a metaphorical expression, used by a poet, [meaning (tropical:) Lover of eminence,] like عَشِيقُ العُلَى. (TA.)