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1 سَبَحَ ذ , aor. سَبَحَ , inf. n. سَبْحٌ (Msb, K) and سِبَاحَةٌ, (S, * K,) or the latter is a simple subst., (Msb,) He swam, syn. عَامَ, (S, * K,) بِالنَّهْرِ and فِيهِ [in the river], (K,) or rather بِالمَآءِ (MF, TA) or فى المَآءِ (Msb) [i. e. in the water], for it is likewise in the sea, and in a pool, and also in any expanse: (MF, TA:) [or he swam upon the surface, without immersing himself; for,] accord. to Z, there is a difference between عَوْمٌ and سِبَاحَةٌ; the former signifying the “ coursing along in water with immersion of oneself; ” and the latter, the coursing along upon water without immersion of oneself. (MF, TA.) ― -b2- [Hence,] النُّجُومُ تَسْبَحُ فِى الفَلَكِ (A, TA) (tropical:) The stars [swim, or glide along, or] pass along, in the firmament, with a spreading forth. (TA.) It is said in the Kur xxi. 34 and xxxvi. 40, with reference to the sun and the moon, (Bd and Jel in xxi. 34,) with which the stars are meant to be included, (Jel ibid.,) كُلٌّ فِى فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ, i. e. (assumed tropical:) All [glide or] travel along swiftly, [in a firmament,] like the swimmer (Bd and Jel ibid.) upon the surface of the water, (Bd ibid.,) or in the water; (Jel ibid.;) wherefore the form of the verb used is that which is appropriate to rational beings, (Bd and Jel ibid.,) swimming being the act of such beings. (Bd ibid.) ― -b3- And [hence] one says, سَبَحَ ذِكْرُكَ الشَّمْسِ وَ القَمَرِ ↓ مَسَابِحَ (tropical:) [Thy fame has travelled as far as the sun and the moon; lit., swum along the tracts along which swim the sun and the moon]. (A, TA.) ― -b4- [Hence, likewise, as inf. n. of سَبَحَ, aor. as above,] سَبْحٌ also signifies (tropical:) The running of a horse (S, L, K, * TA) in which the fore legs are stretched forth well [like as are the arms of a man in swimming]. (L, K, * TA.) ― -b5- And (assumed tropical:) The being quick, or swift. (MF.) ― -b6- And (assumed tropical:) The being, or becoming, remote. (MF.) ― -b7- And (assumed tropical:) The travelling far. (K.) You say, سَبَحَ فِى الأَرْضِ (assumed tropical:) He went, or travelled, far, in, or into, the land, or country: (O, TA:) and سَبَخَ: both thus expl. by Abu-l-Jahm El-Jaafaree. (TA.) ― -b8- And (assumed tropical:) The journeying for the purpose of traffic (تَقَلُّب [q. v.]); and [a people's] becoming scattered, or dispersed, in the land, or earth. (K.) And (assumed tropical:) The busying oneself in going to and fro, or seeking gain, (IAar, TA,) and occupying oneself according to his own judgment or discretion, in the disposal or management of affairs, in respect of the means of subsistence. (IAar, S, K, TA.) You say, فُلَانٌ يَسْبَحُ النَّهَارَ كُلَّهُ فِى طَلَبِ المَعَاشِ (tropical:) [Such a one busies himself in going to and fro, or occupies himself according to his own judgment or discretion, in seeking the means of subsistence]. (A, TA.) And سَبَحَ فِى حَوَائِجِهِ (assumed tropical:) He occupied himself according to his own judgment or discretion in the accomplishment of his needful affairs. (Msb.) ― -b9- As used in the Kur [lxxiii. 7], where it is said, إِِنَّ لَكَ فِى النَّهَارِ سَبْحًا طَوِيلًا, it is variously explained: (S, TA:) accord. to Katádeh (S) and El-Muärrij, (S, TA,) the meaning is, (assumed tropical:) [Verily thou hast in the day-time] long freedom from occupation; (S, K, * TA;) and in this sense, also, its verb is سَبَحَ, aor. سَبَحَ : (JM:) [thus it has two contr. significations:] or, accord. to Lth, (assumed tropical:) leisure for sleep: (TA:) accord. to AO, the meaning is, (assumed tropical:) long-continued scope, or room, for free action; syn. مُتَقَلَّبًا طَوِيلًا: and accord. to ElMuärrij, it means also (assumed tropical:) coming and going: (S, TA:) accord. to Fr, the meaning is, (assumed tropical:) thou hast in the day-time the accomplishment of thy needful affairs: (TA:) or the meaning is, (assumed tropical:) [long] occupation of thyself in thy affairs of business; not being free from occupation therein for the reciting of the Kur-án. (Jel.) Some read سَبْخًا, which has nearly the same meaning as سَبْحًا. (Zj, TA.) ― -b10- As inf. n. of سَبَحَ, (TK,) it signifies also (assumed tropical:) The state of sleeping. (K.) And as such also, (TK,) (assumed tropical:) The being still, quiet, or motionless. (K.) ― -b11- [Also (assumed tropical:) The glistening of the mirage.] You say, سَبَحَ السَّرَابُ, or الآلُ, meaning لَمَعَ [i. e. (assumed tropical:) The mirage glistened]. (O.) ― -b12- And (assumed tropical:) The digging, or burrowing, in the earth, or ground. (K, * TA.) You say of the jerboa, سَبَحَ فِى الأَرْضِ (assumed tropical:) He dug, or burrowed, in the earth, or ground. (O, TA.) ― -b13- And (assumed tropical:) The being profuse in speech. (K.) You say, سَبَحَ فِى الكَلَامِ (assumed tropical:) He was profuse in speech. (O, TA.) ― -b14- See also the next paragraph. in two places.
An Arabic-English Lexicon. London. Williams and Norgate. 1863.

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