Word Meaning
ग़ैरत
ghairat
Meaning
Sense of honor, pride, self-respect, or protective jealousy.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu poetry, 'ghairat' denotes an acute sense of personal honor, dignity, or modesty that refuses to tolerate disrespect or indignity. In the compound 'ghairat-e-ishq' from the couplet, it refers to the lover's intense pride and sensitivity in love, which turns separation and suspicion into a severe trial of self-respect. It often acts as a boundary that prevents the lover from compromising their devotion or accepting pity.
Etymology
Arabic (غَيْرَة, ghayrah), meaning zeal, protective jealousy, or sense of honor.
Usage
In ghazal tradition, it frequently embodies the paradoxical tension between absolute surrender in love and the lover's uncompromising personal dignity.
Examples
The pride of love did not permit turning back.
His sense of honor kept him silent.