Word Meaning
नीम-शब
nīm-shab
hinoun
Meaning
Midnight; the dead of night; the middle of the night.
Detailed Meaning
Literally meaning 'half-night', 'nīm-shab' signifies midnight or the dead of night. In classical Urdu poetry, this silent hour is the archetypal setting for the solitary lover's agonizing sighs and fervent prayers. In this couplet, it evokes the despairing midnight laments that herald a difficult turn in the traveler's journey.
Etymology
Persian compound of 'nīm' (half) and 'shab' (night).
Usage
Frequently used in classical ghazal to denote the peak of nocturnal solitude when the lover laments unseen by the rest of the sleeping world.
Examples
In the silence of midnight, the lover's weeping echoes.
The sigh of midnight ascends toward the heavens.
Synonyms
आधी रातमध्यरात्रिनिसफ़-शब
Related Words
शबसहरफ़ुग़ानशब-ए-फ़ुर्क़त