Learn Arabic › B1 › تَوَسَّل
تَوَسَّل
to beg /ta.wasˈsa.la/
verbB1#2144 most common
Also: to plead, to implore, to seek a means of access
Example sentences
تَوَسَّلَ إِلَيَّ.
He begged me.
تَوَسَّلَ الطِّفْلُ إِلَى أُمِّهِ.
The child pleaded with his mother.
تَوَسَّلَ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ يُسَاعِدَهُ.
He begged him to help him.
تَوَسَّلَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ إِلَى الْقَاضِي بِالدُّمُوعِ.
The woman implored the judge with tears.
تَوَسَّلَ الْأَسِيرُ إِلَى خَاطِفِيهِ كَيْ يُطْلِقُوا سَرَاحَهُ.
The captive pleaded with his kidnappers to set him free.
تَوَسَّلَ الشَّاعِرُ إِلَى مَمْدُوحِهِ بِأَبْيَاتٍ يَسْتَعْطِفُ بِهَا كَرَمَهُ.
The poet implored his patron with verses seeking to move his generosity.
Conjugation
| Present Active | Simple Past Active | Simple Future Active | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1sg | أَتَوَسَّلُ | تَوَسَّلْتُ | سَأَتَوَسَّلُ |
| 2sg | تَتَوَسَّلُ | تَوَسَّلْتَ | سَتَتَوَسَّلُ |
| 3sg | يَتَوَسَّلُ | تَوَسَّلَ | سَيَتَوَسَّلُ |
| 1pl | نَتَوَسَّلُ | تَوَسَّلْنَا | سَنَتَوَسَّلُ |
| 2pl | تَتَوَسَّلُونَ | تَوَسَّلْتُمْ | سَتَتَوَسَّلُونَ |
| 3pl | يَتَوَسَّلُونَ | تَوَسَّلُوا | سَيَتَوَسَّلُونَ |
Word family
وَسِيلَةmeans, medium
تَوَسُّلpleading, supplication
وَسَائِلmeans, media (plural)
مُتَوَسِّلone who pleads, supplicant
Etymology
The verb comes from the triliteral root w-s-l, which carries the sense of connection, link, and means of approach. A wasīla is a means or channel by which one reaches a goal or a person. In Form V (tafaʿʿala) the verb takes on the reflexive sense of seeking such a means, hence to plead or beg for access to someone's favor.
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