אֶפֶשׁ, (אפש, √אף, cmp. הפץ; corresp. to b. h. נֶפֶשׁ, v. Jer. XV, 1) desire, pleasure; [only with personal pron. as suffix]. Naz. IV, 5 אי אַפְשִׁי וכ׳ I will not live with an offensive woman. Keth. XII, 3 אי א׳ לזוז וכ׳ I cannot leave my husband’s house. Y. Yoma VII, 45ᵇ bot. אי א׳ שיכפר וכ׳ I do not want the Day of Atonement to bring me forgiveness. Y. Yeb. XIII, beg. 13ᵇ א׳ בנישואיך I am willing to marry thee. Num. R. s. 13 (alluding to Gen. III, 22) אמר אדם אי א׳ said Adam, I cannot (do penitence). Said the Lord, ‘And now’,—said Adam ‘pen’, ‘by no means’, ‘I will not’. Y. Keth. VII, 31ᵇ bot. אי א׳ אשה (read באשה). Y. Pes. VIII, 35ᵈ bot. א׳ שתמנה (read אי א׳). Y. Gitt. VI, 1; a. fr. Gen. R. s. 38 אי אַפְשֵׁנוּ וכ׳ we desire neither him nor his divine protection.