H1803 דַּלָּה dallâh → Derivative
10 languagesDerivative of root דלה — canonical: H1802 דָּלָה (6 family members).
A strand or something that hangs loosely, such as a thread or hair; by figurative extension, a person or state characterized by weakness, poverty, or pining (languishing) sickness. Used concretely for a hanging thread or hair and metaphorically for extreme poverty, lifelessness, or frailty.
Etymology
From the root דלה, which originally means 'to draw up, lift, hang down.' The form דַּלָּה represents a feminine noun formation from the root, with an original sense of something dangling or being let down. This concrete image gives rise to abstract senses (weak, impoverished, sickly) by extension.
Reflexes · not yet grouped by proto-form
| Language | Word | Meaning | Segmentation | Root |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bemba | ndala | poverty, need, lack, being poor; also 'money' (by semantic drift) | ndal- | |
| Chichewa | ndala | money (modern), formerly associated with (shell) wealth or poverty | ndala | |
| Kaonde | ndala | poverty, lack, being in need | ndala | |
| Kikongo | dala | to be poor, suffer, be in need | dal- | |
| Kimbundu | dala | to be in want, lack, to be destitute | -dal- | |
| Lamba | ndala | poverty; (modern) money | ndala | |
| Lingala | dala | to be poor, destitute | -dal- | |
| Luba-Kasai (Tshiluba) | ndala | poverty, destitution, being poor; also (modern) 'money' | ndala | |
| Lunda | ndala | poverty, being poor; also coin, money (modern usage) | ndala | |
| Tonga (Zambia) | ndala | money (modern usage, term for wealth or lack originally) | ndala |