alasmai used to say the arabs used to speak with meanings and if those meanings were changed they would not speak with that speech. an example of this is what people say today he brought her dowry to her. this was only said when the dowry was camels and sheep. in analogy with what alasmai said the owners of the dates whose blood money and dowries were the dates did not say soandso brought his dowry. he said an example of this is what people say today soandso built a house for his family last night. this was only said by someone who was pitching his dowry or tent for his family that night and that was his building.
كان الأصمعي يقول قد كان للعرب كلام على معان، فإذا ابتدلت تلك المعاني لم يتكلم بذلك الكلام. فمن ذلك قول الناس اليوم ساق إليها صداقها . وإنما كان هذا يقال حين كان الصداق إبلا وغنما. وفي قياس قول الأصمعي أن أصحاب التمر، الذين كان التمر دياتهم ومهورهم، كانوا لا يقولون ساق فلان صداقه . قال ومن ذلك قول الناس اليوم قد بنى فلان البارحة على أهله وإنما كان هذا القول لمن كان يضرب على أهله في تلك الليلة قبته وخيمته، وذلك هو بناؤه.