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dlmh (da/ilmā [dīlmā]) adv./conj. lest, perhaps
1
lest, perhaps
Common Aramaic
Ezra 7:23↗ דִּי־לְמָה לֶהֱוֵא קְצַף עַל־מַלְכוּת מַלְכָּא‏ : lest the King's realm suffer wrath ; 11QtgJob 21.4=32:13↗ די למה תאמרו[ן‏ ; GenApoc 22.22↗ דל^מ^א תהוה אמר‏ ; PTBer 5.b:32[2]↗ דילמ׳ תרין עובדין אינון‏ : perhaps there are two cases ; PTTan 69.c:41[2]↗ דילמא דטעינן בחושבנא‏ : perhaps we made a mistake in the calculation ; PTQid 65.b:41[2]↗ דילמ׳ דאינון בהתין פלגון מן פלג‏ : perhaps they are embarrassed by each other ; TN Gen31:22↗ דלמה דהיא טייפה‏ : perhaps it will overflow ; AphDem4.76:9↗ ܕܠܡܐ ܢܫܬܟܚ ܒܗ ܡܘܡܐ‏ : lest a blemish be found in it
(1)
_ : unless
JBAg
2
rhetorical interrogative
Syr, Man
P Is36:18↗ ܕܠܡܐ ܦܨܝܘ ܐ̈ܠܗܝܗܘܢ ܕܥܡ̈ܡܐ‏ : did the gods of the gentiles save them? ; P Je2:32↗ ܕܠܡܐ ܛܥܝܐ ܒܬܘܠܬܐ ܥܘܕܢܗ‏ : can a virgin forget her ornamentation? ; Pishra D-ainia 294 ↗ ˁdilma aina hasumtia uaina raiubtia qaritulia : did you (really) call me an envious and ravenous eye!?
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Qum also די למה ; Mand. ˁdilma; Sam. דלם
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Page refs. in other dictionaries: LS2: 691[372]DJPA: 150bDJBA: 331bJastrow: 299Drower/Macuch: 341bPayne-Smith: 1983J. Payne-Smith: 93Levy Ch-W: 1:178Tal Sam: 183

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Thu, 05 Nov 2026 02:21:45 -0500