כָּפַר (b. h.; cmp. כפף) 1) to bend, arch over, cover; v. כְּפוֹר, כּוֹפֶר &c. —2) [to pass over with one’s palm &c., to wipe out, rub (cmp. חפף),] to deny, withhold the truth by claiming ignorance; to ignore (mostly with ב of the object). B. Mets. 4ᵃ הכּוֹפֵר במלוה he who denied having received a loan (and was refuted before being sworn, v. הֶיסֵּת). Ib. על מה שכ׳ וכ׳ he is sworn on what he denied. Shebu. IV, 1 עד שיִכְפְּרוּ בהן בב"ד until they declare their ignorance (of the testimony) before court. Ib. 4 כָּפְרוּ שניהן וכ׳ if both witnesses pleaded ignorance at the same time. Ib. כָּפְרָה הראשונה if the first set of witnesses pleaded ignorance. Ib. VI, 3 והודה … וכ׳ בקרקעות and defendant admits the debt concerning vessels, but denies it as to landed estate. Sabb. 116ᵃ מכירין וכוֹפְרִין they know (true religion) and yet are disbelievers. Cant. R. to I, 14 (play on הכפר, ib.) שכ׳ באו"ה He disowned the gentiles (did not assist them), opp. הודה; a. v. fr.—כ׳ בעיקר to deny the principle of religion (unity of God &c.). B. Bath. 16ᵇ; a. fr.—Snh. 39ᵃ א"ל כּוֹפֵר ed. (Ms. M. קיסר) an infidel said &c.
Hif. - הִכְפִּיר (v. כַּפָּרָה) to say of a person, ‘May his death be an atonement for his sins!’ euphem. for to be angry at. Pes. 69ᵃ אל תַּכְפִּירֵנִי בשעת הדין ed. (Ms. M. a. Ar. תְּכַפְּרֵנִי) do not make me an atonement (saying תהא מיתתו כפרה) at the time of judgment (differ. in comm.); Ab. Zar. 46ᵇ (some eds. תכפריני).
Pi. - כִּיפַּר, כִּפֵּר [to wipe out,] to forgive, atone; to procure forgiveness. Yoma 5ᵃ כאילו לא כ׳ וכפר as if he (the priest) had not procured atonement (in the proper manner), although he has procured atonement (for the person concerned); Neg. XIV, 10 כ׳ ומעלין עליו כאילו לא כ׳ he has brought atonement, but it is accounted to the officiating priest as if he had not done so. Ber. 55ᵃ … כל זמן מזבח מְכַפֵּר על וכ׳ as long as the Temple existed, the altar was the means of atonement for Israel, but now each man’s table must be the means of atonement (ref. to Ez. XLI, 22). Tanḥ. Vayishl. 6 כשם … מְכַפֶּרֶת וכ׳ as the altar brings atonement, so does she (the chaste wife) atone for her household. Kidd. 57ᵃ, a. e. מכשיר ומכפר, v. כָּשֵׁר I; a. v. fr.—[Ab. Zar. 46ᵇ, v. supra].