Word Meaning
माहताब
māhtāb
hinoun
Meaning
The moon, moonlight, or a moonlit night.
Detailed Meaning
Literally denoting the moon or radiant moonlight, 'māhtāb' is a standard motif of luminous beauty in classical poetry. In this couplet, it appears in the compound 'shab-e-māhtāb' (moonlit night), celebrated along with overcast days as an ideal, irresistible atmospheric setting for drinking wine.
Etymology
Persian (composed of māh 'moon' and tāb 'glow/lustre').
Usage
Commonly contrasted with 'āftāb' (sun) or combined in izafat compounds to evoke romance, nocturnal reflection, or beloved beauty.
Examples
A cup of wine on a moonlit night.
Her face shone like the radiant moon.
Synonyms
चाँदक़मरबद्र
Related Words
आफ़्ताबशब-ए-माहताबमाह-रू