عتاب

Arabic

Etymology

Verbal noun of عَاتَبَ (ʕātaba) from the root ع ت ب (ʕ-t-b).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʕi.taːb/

Noun

عِتَاب • (ʕitāb) m

1. verbal noun of عَاتَبَ (ʕātaba) (form III)
2. verbal noun of عَتَبَ (ʕataba) (form I)
3. reproof

   فَلَيْسَ وُدٌّ إِذَا ذَهَبَ العِتَابُ وَيَبْقَى الوُدَّ مَا بَقِيَ العِتَابُ

   falaysa wuddun ʔiḏā ḏahaba al-ʕitābu wayabqā l-wudda mā baqiya al-ʕitābu

   When reproof departs, there is no love. But love lasts as long as reproof lasts.

   • 1955, Moufdi Zakaria, “Qassaman (Algerian national anthem)”:

     يَا فِرَنْسَا قَد مَضَى وَقْتُ ٱلْعِتَاب
     وَ طَوَيْنَاهُ كَمَا يُطْوَى ٱلْكِتَاب

     Yā Firansā, qad maḍā waqtu l-ʿitāb
     Wa-ṭawaynāhu kamā yuṭwā l-kitāb

     O France, the time of reproof is over
     And we have closed it as a book is closed;

Declension

Declension of noun عِتَاب (ʕitāb)

Singular	basic singular triptote
	Indefinite	Definite	Construct
Informal	عِتَاب ʕitāb	الْعِتَاب al-ʕitāb	عِتَاب ʕitāb
Nominative	عِتَابٌ ʕitābun	الْعِتَابُ al-ʕitābu	عِتَابُ ʕitābu
Accusative	عِتَابًا ʕitāban	الْعِتَابَ al-ʕitāba	عِتَابَ ʕitāba
Genitive	عِتَابٍ ʕitābin	الْعِتَابِ al-ʕitābi	عِتَابِ ʕitābi