Hassan Achahbar Feb 24, 2021:

I agree the Arabic word is missing one character
اسم المفعول من وأد يصاغ على شكل "مَفْعُول" والكتابات الشائعة هي موءود وموؤود
Given the setting of the events (possibly an autobiography in Saudi Arabia from a few decades ago) I think it's only natural that the education system influences one's style.

Fuad Yahya Feb 24, 2021:

Still a typo Thank you, Morano. If this was the intended meaning, it would be a bridge too far. Figurative writing is tricky, and some writers find themselves attracted to a literary (in this case, Quranic) allusion that is just awkward. If this was the intention, it would still be a typo. It should be written الموءودة, not الموءدة.

Morano El-Kholy Feb 24, 2021:

Welcome, dear :)

Ludina Sallam Feb 24, 2021:

نعم، شكرا على هذا الشرح

Morano El-Kholy Feb 24, 2021:

A figurative speech. أعتقد بأنه توجد هنا إستعارة مكنية. شبه الكاتب الوجبة بالطفلة الموؤدة "السفرة الموؤدة" خاصة أنه قد ذكر أن الطعام قد رماه الوالد على التراب والموؤدة تدفن حية في التراب. وهو هنا يريد الاستدلال على مدى الوحشية وشعور المهانة التي شعر بها الإبن وشعرت بها والدته. والله أعلم

Fuad Yahya Feb 24, 2021:

Possibly a typo The term, as written in your question, makes absolutely no sense in the context you provided.

Ludina Sallam Feb 24, 2021:

I am not sure at all, but could one say "the dinner table which was killed before it even started"?