Word Meaning
फ़ौत
faut
Meaning
Loss, lapse, missed opportunity, or passing away/death.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu poetry, 'faut' signifies an irrevocable loss, expiration, or the slip of time and opportunity, as well as death. In this couplet, it refers specifically to the forfeit or passing of the brief respite of existence ('fursat-e-hasti'). It evokes existential grief over the irreplaceable loss of life's moments, an ache that even lifelong worship cannot eradicate.
Etymology
Arabic root ف-و-ت (f-w-t), denoting escape, slipping away, lapse, or passing beyond retrieval.
Usage
In poetic and idiom-rich contexts, it denotes either an irrevocable lapse of time/opportunity or the occurrence of death.
Examples
The sorrow over the loss of precious time
Opportunities that passed away without notice