عبثا

Arabic

Root
ع ب ث (ʕ-b-ṯ)

Etymology

Adverbial accusative of عَبَث (ʕabaṯ, “vain”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʕa.ba.θan/

Adverb

عَبَثًا • (ʕabaṯan)

1. for no purpose, in play, uselessly, for nothing, futilely
   • 609–632 CE, Qur'an, 23:115:

     أَفَحَسِبْتُمْ أَنَّمَا خَلَقْنٰكُمْ عَبَثًا وَأَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْنَا لَا تُرْجَعُونَ

     ʔafaḥasibtum ʔannamā ḵalaqnākum ʕabaṯan wa-ʔannakum ʔilaynā lā turjaʕūna

     Then did you think that We created you uselessly and that to Us you would not be returned?

Synonyms

• بَاطِلًا (bāṭilan)

Descendants

• → Ottoman Turkish: عبثا (abesan)