Wazn
/ˈwɑːzən/noun
A metrical pattern or rhythmic measure, especially in Arabic poetry and music.
Did you know?Arabic wazn belongs to the same root family as mīzān, the Qur’anic “balance” or cosmic scales used as an image of judgment and moral measure.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*w-z-n
“To weigh or measure; a reconstructed Semitic root”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
wazn
“Weight, measure, meter, or rhythmic pattern”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
mīzān
“Scales, balance, or standard of measurement”
Medieval Arabic prosody
Arabic
wazn
“The metrical structure or rhythmic “weight” of a poem”
Modern English
English
wazn
“A technical term for Arabic poetic or musical meter”