Glossary of Arabic Terms

Here are some of the common terms related to the techniques used by the Ali Omar Ermes in his works:

• Abjadiah – Alphabet settings
• Al Abaadul Arbaah – The four dimensions
• Al Alif meezan-al-hurouf – The letter Alif is the Arabic geometrical measure of other letters.
• Alamaat – Signs or emblems
• Alwan – Colours
• Anaqah – Elegance
• Aqeeq – Agate
• At-ta’ajob – Wonder, astonishment
• Awzan – The balance or measurements in poetry and music
• Basariyat – The overpowering visual effect of a composition
• Daibajah – A beautiful presentation in words
• Ehsaas – Feelings or perceptions
• Fi Zilali-el-Hurouf – In the shade of letters
• Istihash – The state of being in the midst of desolation
• Istinaas – Within a familiar or friendly environment/setting
• Istishfaf – The state where you can read beyond what is written and see what is not transparent
• Khalfiyah – Background
• Mabadi ash-shakil – Fundamentals of making shapes
• Mantourat – Slashing colour to create a spontaneous effect
• Masahat – Spaces
• Mohaddabah – Concave
• Moraqqamat – A piece of artwork in an embroidery pattern
• Morjaan – Coral
• Naqa atam – Complete purity
• Naseej – A slow-paced weave of ‘colour’
• Qawat at-ta’athir – Power of impression
• Quwaat at-ta’abir – Power of expression
• Ramye – A power dash of colour
• Shaddah – A sign to show stress on certain letters
• Siraa al moheet – A struggle against the elements
• Tadhareess – Terrain or surface texture of an artwork
• Tahweer – The technique of reforming or reconstituting of a composition
• Taleef – Compiling different elements to come together
• Tamawojat – Waves in speedy movement
• Tamsheet – Combing the surface
• Tanmeeq – Elimination of elegant writing
• Tanseeq – Harmonious arrangement of colours, sounds
• Tarkeebatul harouf – A setting of letters
• Tarqeem – An embroidered pattern
• Tarqeesh – Embellished/ornamented
• Tarrah – Laying colours in position
• Tashreeh – An in-depth look into an artwork
• Tekweem al afkar, alwan, horouf – Piling or composition of ideas, colours or letters on top of each other
• Tekween – A creative composition
• Tikrar – A composition made out of repeated presentation
• Toma-a-Neenah – Tranquility.
• Tughra – A calligraphic symbol
• Usloob – A way or style
• Zaafran – Saffron
• Zukhrufah – A pattern of harmonious compositions
• Zumorrod – Emerald