חסה

Hebrew

חסה

Etymology 1

From Aramaic חַסָּא (khassaʾ). Compare likely cognates Arabic خَسّ (ḵass) and Maltese ħassa, both with the same meaning.

Noun

חַסָּה • (khása) f (plural indefinite חַסּוֹת)

1. lettuce (an edible plant, Lactuca sativa and its close relatives, having a head of green and/or purple leaves)
2. (uncountable, vegetable) lettuce (the leaves of the lettuce plant, eaten as a vegetable; as a dish often mixed with other ingredients, dressing etc)

References

• “חסה” in the Hebrew Terms Database of the Academy of Hebrew Language

Etymology 2

Root
ח־ס־ה (kh-s-h)
2 terms

Verb

חָסָה • (khasá) (pa'al construction)

1. (literary) to shelter, to take refuge
   • Tanach, Judges 9:15, with translation of the New International Version:

     […] בֹּאוּ חֲסוּ בְצִלִּי […]

     […] bo'ú khasú b'tsilí […]

     […] come and take refuge in my shade […]

   • Tanach, Psalms 144:2, with translation of the New International Version:

     חַסְדִּי וּמְצוּדָתִי מִשְׂגַּבִּי וּֽמְפַלְטִי לִי מָגִנִּי וּבוֹ חָסִיתִי הָרוֹדֵד עַמִּי תַחְתָּֽי׃

     He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.

2. to trust, to have faith in something or someone
   • Tanach, Nahum 1:7, with translation of the New International Version:

     טוֹב יהוה לְמָעוֹז בְּיוֹם צָרָה וְיֹדֵעַ חֹסֵי בֽוֹ׃

     The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares (for those who) trust in him,

Conjugation

Conjugation of חָסָה (see also Appendix:Hebrew verbs)

non-finite forms		to-infinitive		לַחֲסוֹת
		action noun		חֲסִיָּה
		passive participle		חָסוּי
finite forms		singular		plural
		m	f	m	f
past	first	חָסִיתִי		חָסִינוּ
	second	חָסִיתָ	חָסִית	חֲסִיתֶם1	חֲסִיתֶן1
	third	חָסָה	חָסְתָה	חָסוּ
present		חוֹסֶה	חוֹסָה	חוֹסִים	חוֹסוֹת
future	first	אֶחֱסֶה		נֶחֱסֶה
	second	תֶּחֱסֶה	תֶּחֱסִי	תֶּחֱסוּ	תֶּחֱסֶינָה2
	third	יֶחֱסֶה	תֶּחֱסֶה	יֶחֱסוּ	תֶּחֱסֶינָה2
imperative		חֲסֵה	חֲסִי	חֲסוּ	חֲסֶינָה2

¹ Pronounced חָסִיתֶם and חָסִיתֶן in informal Modern Hebrew.
² Rare in Modern Hebrew.

or

Conjugation of חָסָה (see also Appendix:Hebrew verbs)

non-finite forms		to-infinitive		לַחְסוֹת
		action noun		חֲסִיָּה
		passive participle		חָסוּי
finite forms		singular		plural
		m	f	m	f
past	first	חָסִיתִי		חָסִינוּ
	second	חָסִיתָ	חָסִית	חֲסִיתֶם1	חֲסִיתֶן1
	third	חָסָה	חָסְתָה	חָסוּ
present		חוֹסֶה	חוֹסָה	חוֹסִים	חוֹסוֹת
future	first	אֶחְסֶה		נֶחְסֶה
	second	תֶּחְסֶה	תֶּחְסִי	תֶּחְסוּ	תֶּחְסֶינָה2
	third	יֶחְסֶה	תֶּחְסֶה	יֶחְסוּ	תֶּחְסֶינָה2
imperative		חֲסֵה	חֲסִי	חֲסוּ	חֲסֶינָה2

¹ Pronounced חָסִיתֶם and חָסִיתֶן in informal Modern Hebrew.
² Rare in Modern Hebrew.

Etymology 3

Root
ח־ו־ס (kh-w-s)
2 terms

Verb

חָסָה • (khasá)

1. Third-person feminine singular past (suffix conjugation) of חָס (khas)
   • 1919, Hayim Nahman Bialik, Aftermath 1:

     כאפרוח יתום תעיתי בדד מסביב לקִנִּי, אבי ואמי עזבוני ועין לא חסה עלי.

     As a chicken orphan I wandered alone around my nest, my father and mother left me and no eye had mercy on me.

2. Feminine singular present participle and present tense of חָס (khas)