Word Meaning
इंतिज़ार
intizaar
Meaning
Waiting, expectation, anticipation, or watching anxiously for someone.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu poetry, 'intizaar' denotes the intense state of waiting, longing, and yearning for the beloved or an expected event. In this couplet, it captures the lover's unwavering dedication to waiting in vain, bound strictly by the beloved's promise regardless of whether they actually arrive. It conveys emotional persistence suspended between despair and hope.
Etymology
Arabic root ن-ظ-ر (n-ẓ-r), derived from the verbal noun of Form VIII (ifti'āl) 'intizār', signifying waiting, looking out for, or contemplation.
Usage
In the ghazal tradition, 'intizaar' is frequently paired with imagery of twilight, sleepless nights, and the lover's eyes fixed on the doorway.
Examples
A lifetime spent in waiting at the threshold.
Whether dawn comes or not, the wait continues.