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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