מָשַׁל II (b. h.; denom. of next w.) 1) to speak metaphorically. Nidd. V, 7 מָשָׁל מָשְׁלוּ וכ׳ the scholars introduced metaphors for designating the stages of female puberty. —2) to compare, to give an illustration. Tosef. Ber. I, 11 משלו משל למה וכ׳ they made a comparison: what is this to be compared to? To &c. R. Hash. 17ᵇ אֶמְשׁוֹל לך משל למה וכ׳ let me tell thee a parable: what is this like to? To &c. Cant. R. to II, 15 כשחוא מוֹשֵׁל את המלכיות אינו מוֹשְׁלָן אלא באש when one wants to find a simile for hostile governments, one compares them to fire; a. v. fr.—Part. pass. מָשׁוּל; f. מְשׁוּלָה; pl. מְשׁוּלִים, מְשׁוּלִין; מְשׁוּלוֹת. 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.