परी

Meaning

Plumage, flight, or winged state; also a fairy or celestial beauty.

Detailed Meaning

In Persian and classical Urdu, 'parī' can denote an abstract noun derived from 'par' (wing/feather), meaning plumage or the capability of flight. In this couplet, as part of the phrase 'be-bāl-o-parī', it refers to winglessness and helplessness. It also commonly denotes a mythical fairy or breathtaking beloved.

Etymology

Persian 'par' (feather, wing) with abstract suffix '-ī', or Persian 'parī' (fairy, avestan 'pairikā').

Usage

In ghazal poetry, it frequently appears in compounds like 'bāl-o-parī' to depict freedom or captivity, alongside its common usage for an angelic beloved.

Examples

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Related Words