Definitions
to lead
Etymology
About
The character "羑" is structurally composed of the semantic component "羊", meaning sheep, combined with the phonetic element "久", indicating its pronunciation. Etymologically, this construction suggests an original association with the act of shepherding or guiding livestock, which informed its early usage. Historically, the character is primarily encountered within the place name "羑里", denoting a specific location in ancient China renowned as the site of King Wen of Zhou's confinement. From this concrete geographic reference, the meaning of "羑" extended over centuries to acquire a verbal sense, signifying to guide, induce, or lead, although this abstract usage has become obsolete in contemporary language.
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