नम

Meaning

Moisture, dampness, wetness, or dewiness.

Detailed Meaning

In classical Urdu poetry, 'nam' denotes moisture, wetness, or dampness, often associated with dew or tears. In this couplet, it refers to the moisture of dew ('nam-e-shabnam') that soaks the figurative cotton in the rose's ear. This dampness thickens the plug, explaining why the beloved rose remains deaf to the nightingale's grief.

Etymology

Persian (نم, nam), signifying dampness, moisture, or wet.

Usage

Frequently compounded in ghazals with 'chashm' (eye) or 'deeda' to describe tearful, grief-stricken eyes.

Examples

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Related Words