A new word or phrase from the Hans Wehr dictionary, every Wednesday.
حبر على ورق mere ink on paper, of no effect (e.g., an agreement, a treaty)
Root: ح-ب-ر
Page: 180*
Example: “لَمْ يَعُد الاِتِّفاقُ مُجَرَّدَ حِبرٍ على وَرَقٍ إذ يَتَحَقَّقُ ما يَنُصُّ عَلَيهِ على أَرضِ الواقِع”
Translation: “the agreement is no longer merely ink on paper, with what it stipulates coming into effect on the ground”
Notes:
- See that phrase لم يعدْ? Find out all about it in How to Say “No Longer” in Arabic!
- And I have an answer for you if you were pondering the question “What Does إذ Mean and How Do We Use It?“
Revise all of the vocab from the series on Quizlet:
* The Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic, 4th Edition
The Arabic Pages 