الخَنَّاسُ

The devil: (S, K:) an epithet applied to him, (Msb,) because he retires, or shrinks, or hides himself, (يَخْنُسُ, S, Msb, K, i. e., يَتَأَخَّرُ, as is implied in the S, or يَنْقَبِضُ, Msb, or يَغِيبُ, K,) at the mention of God; (S, Msb, K; *) being an intensive act. particle n. from خَنَسَ. (Msb.)