ب ر ه ن

بُرْهَانٌ برهان رهان An evidence, or a proof: (T, S, Msb, K, and Ham p. 7:) and a demonstration; i. e. the manifestation of an evidence or proof: (Msb:) or a decisive and manifest evidence or proof: (TA:) or the firmest, strongest, or most valid, evidence or proof; which is such as ever necessarily implies truth, or veracity, as its consequence, or concomitant; for evidences, or proofs, are of five sorts; whereof this is one; another is that which ever necessarily implies falsity, or falsehood, as its consequence, or concomitant; another, that which is nearer to truth, or veracity; another, that which is nearer to falsity, or falsehood; and another, that which is intermediate between these two: (Er-Rághib, TA:) [pl. بَرَاهِينُ :] some say that the ن in this word is augmentative; (Msb, and Ham p. 7;) that it is of the measure فُعْلَانٌ , from البره [app. البَرْهُ ] signifying the “act of cutting:” (Ham ubi suprà:) others, that it is radical: Az mentions both of these opinions: J confines himself to the latter opinion: Z, to the former, saying, on the authority of IAar, that the word is derived from بَرَهْرَهَةٌ , meaning “white,” [or “fair in complexion,”] applied to a girl: (Msb:) Abu-l-Fet-h [i. e. IJ] says that he holds it to be of the measure فُعْلَالٌ , like قُرْطَاسٌ and قُرْنَاسٌ , the ن not being augmentative, as is shown by the verb above mentioned: (Ham ubi suprà:) but [it has been stated above that] this verb is said, on the authority of IAar, to be post-classical. (Msb, TA.)