مَا+دَامَas long as

Example sentences

• يُحسنُ الظنَّ بمخالفه، فيُفسِّر كلامَه على أفضلِ محاملِه ما دام يحتمل، ويُفرّق بين نقضِ القولِ وإهانةِ القائل

  He thinks well of his opponent, interpreting his words in the best possible light as long as they can bear it, and distinguishes between refuting the statement and insulting the speaker.

  مَا دَامَ — as long as. Two words fused as an idiom — 'as long as / so long as' — built on the verb 'lasted.' It conditions the charitable reading: he reads the words well FOR AS LONG AS they can bear it, as the verb next says.

  From: Mercy in Disagreement →