Word Meaning
उश्शाक़
ushshaaq
Meaning
Lovers, paramours, or passionate admirers (broken plural of aashiq).
Detailed Meaning
In Urdu poetry, 'ushshaq' refers collectively to passionate lovers who endure the suffering and trials of intense devotion. In Ghalib's couplet, 'gham-e-ushshaq' (the sorrow of lovers) signifies the profound grief born of unrequited love that threatens to impart worldliness to the naive beauty of the beloveds.
Etymology
Arabic, irregular broken plural of 'āshiq' (عاشق), derived from the root 'ashq' (ع-ش-ق) meaning intense or passionate love.
Usage
A recurrent motif in the ghazal tradition denoting the collective fraternity of suffering devotees pitted against the tyranny or indifference of the beloved.
Examples
The lamentations of lovers echoed through the night.
Such is the destined trial in the gathering of lovers.