משל II

מָשַׁלII (b. h.; denom. of next w.) 1) to speak metaphorically. Nidd.V, 7 מָשָׁל מָשְׁלוּוכ׳ the scholars introduced metaphors for designating the stages of female puberty. 2) to compare, to give an illustration. Tosef.Ber.I, 11 משלו משל למהוכ׳ they made a comparison: what is this to be compared to? To R. Hash. 17b אֶמְשוֹל לך משל למהוכ׳ let me tell thee a parable: what is this like to? To Cant. R. to II, 15 כשהוא מֹושֵׁל את המלכיות אינו מֹושְׁלָן אלא באש when one wants to find a simile for hostile governments, one compares them to fire; a. v. fr.Part. pass. מָשוּל; f. מְשוּלָה; pl. מְשוּלִים, מְשוּלִין; מְשוּלוֹת. Meg.16a אומה זו מ׳ לעפר ומ׳וכ׳ that nation (Israel) is compared now to dust and now to the stars; a. v. fr. Nif. נִמְשַׁל to be compared (followed by ל־, כ־ or ב־). Taan.7a נִמְשְׁלוּ דברי תורה לאש Ms. M. (ed. כאש, באש. v. Rabb. D. S. a. l. note) the words of the Law are compared to fire. Gen. R. s. 41 התורה שנִמְשְׁלָה למים the Law which is compared to water; a. v. fr.