अफ़्सुर्दगी

Meaning

Dejection, melancholy, gloom, or loss of inner fire and spirit.

Detailed Meaning

In classical Urdu poetics, 'afsurdagi' denotes a state of profound melancholy, emotional freezing, or the extinction of passion. In this couplet, it represents the heart's cold despondency, creating a poignant paradox where this cold numbness burns and torments the lover far more intensely than an actual flame.

Etymology

Persian, from 'afsurdan' (to freeze, wither, or congeal), suffix '-gī' denoting state or abstract quality.

Usage

Commonly deployed in the ghazal as an antithesis to flame ('shola') and burning passion ('soz') to dramatize the death of desire.

Examples

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Related Words