reduced to a shadow of their former selves

18:07 May 14, 2020
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere

English to Arabic translations [Non-PRO]
History
English term or phrase: reduced to a shadow of their former selves
At first glance, the world of the 13th century BC seems a stable one with its key players firmly entrenched in their respective homelands. But within the span of the next century, each of these nations would undergo a series of catastrophic setbacks. The lucky ones would see themselves reduced to a shadow of their former selves, most others would be torn asunder swapping only as myths passed down by word of mouth through the dark ages that succeeded them.
Firas Waked
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Local time: 15:52


Summary of answers provided
5ينحنوا الى ظلال الحالة السابقة
adel almergawy
5اضمحل كيانها، تضعضع بنيانها
Fuad Yahya
4صاروا أثرًا بعد عين
Emad Taha
3سينكرون أنفسهم التي ألفوها سابقا
Mai Saleh


  

Answers


33 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
سينكرون أنفسهم التي ألفوها سابقا


Explanation:
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/amp/english/a-shadow-of-you...
او
المحظوظون منهم سيجدون أنفسهم لا شيء مقارنة بالماضي

Mai Saleh
Syria
Local time: 15:52
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
ينحنوا الى ظلال الحالة السابقة


Explanation:
سيندرجوا تحت ظلال الماضى

adel almergawy
Egypt
Local time: 14:52
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
اضمحل كيانها، تضعضع بنيانها


Explanation:
The meaning of the phrase in question needs no elaboration: catastrophic setbacks have shrunk the political, military, and economic prowess of some nations and have weakened their cultural influence. In comparison with what they used to be, they look like shadows or caricatures.

The writer is very careful to distinguish between them and other nations that were even less lucky. Those other nations have disappeared and became no more than old tales or myths that people swap for entertainment. Those unlucky nations can be described as

صاروا أثراً بعد عين

But we cannot use this expression for the ones that are still around but have become shadows of their former selves. For those, we use different expressions.

A literal translation of the phrase in question might work, if you wish to try. I would rather use standard Arabic expressions common in such contexts.

If you wish to emphasize the shrinkage of the magnitude of their glory and the dilapidation of their structures, you can try:

اضمحلّ كيانها
تَضَعضَعَ بنيانها

You can also try combining them in either of two ways:
اضمحل كيانها وتضعضع بنيانها
تضعضع بنيانها واضمحل كيانها

If, on the other hand, you wish to emphasize the weakening of their prowess, then try:

ذهبت ريحها
ضعفت شوكتها

You can likewise use them in combination:

ذهبت ريحها وضعفت شوكتها
ضعفت شوكتها وذهبت ريحها

There is one more that I would like to suggest:

تناهبتها يد البلى

This is borrowed from the first line of a poem by الشريف الرضي

ولقد وقفت على ديارهم
وطلولها بيد البلى نهبُ

I hope that one of the options above will suit your style.

Fuad Yahya
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 27
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
صاروا أثرًا بعد عين


Explanation:

A shadow of your former self
Someone or something that is not as strong, powerful, or useful as it once was

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/a-shadow...

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Note added at 6 hrs (2020-05-15 00:46:17 GMT)
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من معاني صار أثرًا بعد عين: اضمحل ، المصدر قاموس المعاني
shorturl.at/ahsz7

Emad Taha
United Arab Emirates
Local time: 16:52
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
PRO pts in category: 4
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