maħafi

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Maltese

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Root
ħ-w-f (fear)
4 terms

Etymology

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Univerbation of ma’ (with) +‎ *ħaf (fear) +‎ -i, literally with fear, *ħaf is possibly the verbal noun of hypothetical form I *ħaf from خَافَ (ḵāfa, to fear). Perhaps *ħaf has merged or superseded by ħaf (to roam), itself from a metathesis of Arabic حَفِيَ (ḥafiya, to walk barefoot). Compare the same in Arabic مَعَ خَوْف (maʕa ḵawf).

Pronunciation

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Noun

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maħafi m (obsolete)

  1. fear
    Synonym: biża’
    Hemm bżonn li meta taqsam it-triq, dan tagħmlu bil-maħafi.
    Literally: There is need that when you cross the road, you do it with fear.
    It is necessary that when you cross the road, you do so with caution.