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Zero to Hero !
This post is part of the A to Z Challenge. My theme for the month is A to Z of words in English with an Arabic origin. The digit which in itself has no value yet increases the value of another digit manifold, when placed after it. Yes, I finish my A to Z Challenge with ZERO ! (I shall catch up on all the comments and blog posts in the next few weeks, iA! Thank you all for stopping by over my blog and leaving your encouraging comments)
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Yemen
This post is part of the A to Z Challenge. My theme for the month is A to Z of words in English with an Arabic origin. ….we are nearly at the end of this long 26 days Challenge ! Today’s post is about the name of a Middle Eastern country. (Possibly, the name suggests the georgraphic location of Yemen on the southernmost tip of Arabian Peninsula. Another tradition suggests the word derives from the expression al-Yumn which means grace and blessing.)
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Xebec, it is !
This post is part of the A to Z Challenge. My theme for the month is A to Z of words in English with an Arabic origin. X-day might be one of the most difficult one in the A to Z Challenge. I am quite surprised to find an actual word beginning with X which has an Arabic origin. (Initially, I was planning to be cheeky and use X-ray for today, connecting the Algebraic X And Arabic origin :P) Xebec – a small three-masted Mediterranean sailing ship.
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Picturesque Wadi
This post is part of the A to Z Challenge. My theme for the month is A to Z of words in English with an Arabic origin. Wadi al Sail. Wadi Rum. Wadi al Seer. Wadi Musa. Many towns and places in the Arab world have their names beginning with Wadi. Apparently, Wadi is an entry in the Oxford English Dictionary too ! Wadi – (In certain Arabic-speaking countries) a valley, ravine, or channel that is dry except in the rainy season (OED)
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V for Vizier
This post is part of the A to Z Challenge. My theme for the month is A to Z of words in English with an Arabic origin. Vizier – The only place I have come across this word commonly is while reading Akbar and Birbal stories as a child.
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Learned Ulema
This post is part of the A to Z Challenge. My theme for the month is A to Z of words in English with an Arabic origin. Ulema – A word present in the Oxford English Dictionary though not commonly used/known by the English speaking community ! (.. and yay, it being in the Dictionary helped out the fact I am not entry-less for U! Win :D) Ulema means a body of Muslim scholars who are recognized as having specialist knowledge of Islamic sacred law and theology. (Scheduled posts. Apologise again for not catching up on your blogs!)
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Tamarind Taste !
This post is part of the A to Z Challenge. My theme for the month is A to Z of words in English with an Arabic origin. This entry would be by far my fave. It has combination of Arabic and India ! Yay 😀 In most South Indian dishes, we have a common ingredient for its sweetish sour taste -Tamarind. Little did I know until now, the Arabic origin to the name ! My grandmother used to keep salted Tamarind out in the sun for it to dry. I used to eat them without her knowing (and have a stomach ache later in the night!) Ah. Sweet Childhood memories…
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S for Safari
This post is part of the A to Z Challenge. My theme for the month is A to Z of words in English with an Arabic origin. When Zoos gives us a glimpse into wildlife just for a photographic instant, Safaris open up our knowledge to the ways of wild animals ! Ever been on a Safari? The only one I have been to was at Bannerghata National Park, Bangalore, India.
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Ream of Sheets
This post is part of the A to Z Challenge. My theme for the month is A to Z of words in English with an Arabic origin. Today’s post is about yet another commonly used word – ream. Often used in terms of bundle of sheets for printer etc. Meaning – 1. number of sheets of paper, formerly 480 sheets (short ream), now 500 sheets (long ream) or 516 sheets (printer’s ream or perfect ream). One ream is equal to 20 quires 2. (often plural) a large quantity, esp of written matter [Collins English Dictionary] (Apologies for not visiting your blogs/replying to comments since two days. On a short vacation.…
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Qur’an – A literary miracle
This post is part of the A to Z Challenge. My theme for the month is A to Z of words in English with an Arabic origin. Qur’an is the Holy Book for the 1.5 billion Muslims around the world. Mexico to Philippines, Sweden to Johannesburg, the language, the words, the pronunciation and the way of recitation of the Holy Qur’an remains the same. And so has it been for the past 1400 years ! Besides it being the spiritual guidebook for Muslims worldwide, it is also a book of literary miracles with every harakath, every thanween and every word having a meaning or reason for it’s usage. The soulful recitation…
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Primum mobile
This post is part of the A to Z Challenge. My theme for the month is A to Z of words in English with an Arabic origin. ….thus starts some of the difficult alphabets. Yet, I learnt a new word in doing my research for this challenge. Primum Mobile – (Astronomy) the outermost empty sphere in the Ptolemaic system that was thought to revolve around the earth from east to west in 24 hours carrying with it the inner spheres of the planets, sun, moon, and fixed stars. Also means prime mover.
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Orange Zest
This post is part of the A to Z Challenge. My theme for the month is A to Z of words in English with an Arabic origin. A fruit and a colour which gives a fresh and vibrant feeling. Orange ! Orange surely has come a long way !
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N for Nadir
This post is part of the A to Z Challenge. My theme for the month is A to Z of words in English with an Arabic origin. Nādir (نادر – meaning “rare”, “unique”) is a common name for boys amongst Muslims. Hence, I was quite surprised when I found out there is an English word ‘Nadir’ which holds a completely different meaning – lowest point, all-time low, rock bottom. (More than half way of A to Z Challenge! Yay! )