laqa'

From Arabic لَقِيَ (laqiya, “to meet”). The unetymological final għ was triggered by the influence of q on the following vowel; compare baqa’. The etymological past participle milqi is preserved in the placename San Pawl Milqi (literally “St. Paul welcomed”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈla.ʔa/
• IPA^(key): /ˈla.ʔaˤ/ (archaic)
• Homophone: laqgħa

laqa’ (imperfect jilqa’, past participle milqugħ or (archaic) milqi, verbal noun lqigħ)

1. to welcome; to receive guests

   Synonym: rċieva

   Nilqagħkom għal dan il-programm. ― I welcome you to this program.

   • 2008, Trevor Żahra, Il-Ġenn li Jżommni f’Sikti, Merlin Publishers, →ISBN:

     Niftakar li kont mort mal-folla u ma’ sħabi ta’ l-Azzjoni Kattolika biex nilqgħuh fi dħul iż-Żejtun.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

2. to accept (usually something offered one)

   Synonym: aċċetta

   Laqgħu l-offerta tagħna. ― They accepted our offer.

3. to impress

   Synonyms: impressjona, mmarka

4. to take precautionary measures
5. to intercept, to catch