Word Meaning
मिस्ल
misl
Meaning
Like, resembling, in the manner of, or likeness.
Detailed Meaning
In Urdu poetics, 'misl' denotes resemblance or comparison, functioning primarily as a particle of simile meaning 'like' or 'in the likeness of'. In this couplet, it appears in the izafat construction 'misl-e-naqsh' (like a faint sketch or tracing) to illustrate the utter dejection and paralyzed stillness of the lover's sinking heart. It effectively bridges the physical sensation of despair with a motionless, powerless image.
Etymology
Arabic مِثْل (mithl), denoting likeness, resemblance, or equivalent.
Usage
It is most commonly used in Persianate izafat compounds (e.g., 'misl-e-...') to establish vivid metaphors and similes (tashbeeh) in classical ghazals.
Examples
Misl-e-shama jalna (to burn like a candle)
Misl-e-hava guzarna (to pass like the wind)