[1]
زَنَى , aor. يَزْنِى, inf. n. زِنًى [often written زِنًا]
and زِنَآءٌ, (S, Mgh, * Msb, K,) the latter an inf. n.
of 3 (S, Mgh, Msb, K) also, (S, Mgh, K,) but said
by some to be a dial. var. of the former, (Msb,) the
former being of the dial. of the people of El-Hijáz,
(Lh, S, Msb, TA,) and the latter of the dial. of
Benoo-Temeem, (Lh, TA,) or of the people of
Nejd, (S, Msb, TA,) He committed fornication
or adultery; (El-Munáwee, Er-Rághib, TA;) بِهَا
with her: (MA:) but accord. to El-Munáwee,
[it seems to be properly a dial. var. of زَنَأَ as
meaning he mounted; for he says that,] in the
proper language of the Arabs, الزِّنَا signifies the
mounting upon a thing; and in the language of
the law it signifies the commission of the act
first mentioned above: it is [thus] syn. with فَجَرَ:
and in like manner one says of a woman [زَنَتْ]:
(TA:) ↓ زنّى, inf. n. تَزْنِيَةٌ, also signifies the same:
(TA:) and so does ↓ زانى, inf. n. مُزَانَاةٌ and زِنَآءٌ:
(K:) one says of a woman, ↓ تُزَانِى, inf. n. مُزَانَاةٌ
and زِنَآءٌ, meaning تُبَاغِى [i. e. She commits fornication or adultery; or prostitutes herself]. (S.)
It is said in a prov., لَا حُصْنُهَا حُصْنٌ وَلَا الزِّنَآءُ زِنَآءٌ
[Her continence is not continence, nor the fornication, or adultery, that she commits, fornication,
or adultery]: applied to him who does not remain
in one state, or condition; neither in good nor in
evil: (Meyd:) or to him who refrains from doing
good and then is excessive [therein], or from evil
and then is excessive therein; not continuing to
pursue one way. (TA.) [See also زَنْيَةٌ.]