Quranic root
شهر
sh · h · r
The root centers on becoming clear, visible, or conspicuous.
From visibility and illumination, the root develops the sense of the visibly marked new moon and then the lunar month named by it; another branch concerns making something publicly known or notorious.
- Maqāyīs · row 2714
- Lane · entry 39450
- Lane · entry 39445
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 1
- Quran senses
- 21
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
شَهْر
shahr
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 21 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
A lunar or calendrical month, the period recognized by the appearance of the new moon.
Used in the singular, dual, and plural for a month or months, including specified, numbered, or religiously significant periods and a month used as a measure of time.
- Lane · entry 39450
- Mufradāt · row 794
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:185word 1
“Month”
Quran 2:197word 2
“(are) months”
Quran 9:36word 3
“(of) the months”
Quran 34:12word 4
“(was) a month”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:185شَهْرُMonth
- 2:185ٱلشَّهْرَthe month
- 2:194ٱلشَّهْرُThe month
- 2:194بِٱلشَّهْرِ(is) for the month
- 2:197أَشْهُرٌۭ(are) months
Broader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 16 Classical meanings
شَهَرَ / اشْتَهَرَ
To make something or someone public, conspicuous, or notorious; to divulge a story or discourse and expose faults or wrongdoing.
The transitive Form I means to publicize or expose, often with a pejorative implication; the intransitive Form VIII means to become public, conspicuous, or notorious. The use may also imply bringing someone into contempt.
- Lane · entry 39445
- Lane · entry 39449
شَهَرَ
To draw a sword from its scabbard, especially to draw it and raise it over people.
- Lane · entry 39445
شَهَّرَ
To expose or parade an offender publicly as an example, thereby shaming or disgracing him.
A derived intensive usage associated with public display and notoriety.
- Lane · entry 39446
شَاهَرَ
To hire someone by the month or contract with someone for work on a monthly basis.
The corresponding noun مُشَاهَرَة denotes monthly hiring or dealing by the month.
- Lane · entry 39447
أَشْهَرَ
To let a month pass over someone or something; to become a month old, spend a month in a place, or enter upon a month.
It may describe a house altered as months pass, a person or child reaching a month of age, remaining in a place for a month, or entering a lunar month. It is also used of a woman entering the month following childbirth.
- Lane · entry 39448
شَهْر
The new moon when it appears.
This is recorded as an original Classical Arabic signification and is distinct from the calendrical month sense.
- Lane · entry 39450
شَهْر
The moon, especially when conspicuous and near fullness.
A broader lunar-body usage recorded alongside the new-moon sense.
- Lane · entry 39450
شَهْر
A learned man.
A figurative usage explained through the person's public renown.
- Lane · entry 39450
شُهْرَة
Publicity, conspicuousness, or notoriety; also a disgraceful act or fault that exposes its author to shame.
The word may refer either to public recognition generally or, commonly, to notoriety and disgrace.
- Lane · entry 39451
شُهْرَة
A conspicuous garment, whether of an exceptionally excellent or exceptionally vile kind.
Both extremes of conspicuous dress are described as forbidden in the cited lexical discussion.
- Lane · entry 39451
شِهْرِيّ
A type of hackney or mixed-breed horse, including one whose dam is Arabian but whose sire is not.
The term is also used of the corresponding class of hackneys in the plural.
- Lane · entry 39452
شَهِيرَة
Broad and bulky, said of a woman or a she-ass.
- Lane · entry 39453
مَشْهُور / شَهِير
Well known, celebrated, reputable, notable, or held in repute.
Applied to a person and also to a word, phrase, or meaning. The related comparative أَشْهَرُ means more or most apparent, conspicuous, or well known.
- Lane · entry 39454
- Lane · entry 39458
الأَشْهَرَانِ
The drum and the banner, treated as a conventional pair of public emblems.
A specialized lexical expression derived from the sense of being most conspicuous or well known.
- Lane · entry 39454
أَشَاهِر
The whiteness of the narcissus.
A specialized plural-form noun.
- Lane · entry 39455
مُشْهِر
A child one month old.
- Lane · entry 39456
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic form is attested here in the calendrical-month sense; the new-moon and moon senses are broader Classical Arabic meanings and are not assigned to a separate QAC occurrence.
Lane's historical Quran citation notation is not converted into a modern verse location; Quran examples use independently supplied QAC locations.
Unassigned or ambiguous evidence
Lane reports a purported sense of شَهْر as 'the like of a nail-paring,' but explicitly identifies it as apparently arising from a textual or transcriptional mistake, so it is not assigned as a secure meaning.