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Quranic root

شتت

sh · t · t

The root centers on separation, coming apart, and the absence of union, extending to dispersed groups and things that differ from one another.

Its semantic development runs from a collective or state of affairs breaking apart to separated groups, diverse kinds, physically spaced elements, and expressions of wide difference.

  • Maqāyīs · row 2561
  • Lane · entry 37800
  • Mufradāt · row 748
2
Quran-attested forms
3
Quran senses
5
Quran occurrences

Forms in the Quran

The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.

شَتَّى

shattā

Part of speech
Adjective / noun
Quran occurrences
3 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.

  1. Varied, diverse, or different from one another.

    Used of things or courses that are not alike; in مِنْ نَبَاتٍ شَتَّى, it describes plants of different kinds.

    • Mufradāt · row 748
    • Lane · entry 37805
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 20:53word 19

    “diverse”

    Quran 92:4word 3

    “(are) surely diverse”

  2. Disunited, divergent, or lacking mutual accord.

    Used of a collective whose members or parts are not united; in قُلُوبُهُمْ شَتَّى, it describes hearts unlike those brought together in accord.

    • Mufradāt · row 748
    • Lane · entry 37805
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 59:14word 18

    “(are) divided”

شَتٌّ

shattun

Part of speech
Noun · plural أَشْتَات
Quran occurrences
2 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.

  1. Separate or scattered groups; people or units existing apart from one another.

    The plural أَشْتَات is used for people or groups who come, go, or are situated separately rather than as one unified body.

    • Mufradāt · row 748
    • Lane · entry 37805
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 24:61word 57

    “separately”

    Quran 99:6word 4

    “(in) scattered groups”

Occurrences in the Quran

Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.

  • 20:53شَتَّىٰdiverse
  • 24:61أَشْتَاتًۭا ۚseparately
  • 59:14شَتَّىٰ ۚ(are) divided
  • 92:4لَشَتَّىٰ(are) surely diverse
  • 99:6أَشْتَاتًۭا(in) scattered groups
View all 5 occurrences

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 7 Classical meanings

  • شَتَّ

    To become dissolved, broken up, disorganized, or dispersed; to lose the unity of a people, party, or state of affairs.

    An intransitive verb describing a collective, a state of affairs, or a party that breaks apart or becomes unsettled.

    • Lane · entry 37800

  • شَتَّتَ

    To break up, disorganize, disperse, or disunite something or a group; also, to discompose a person's mind.

    A transitive causative use, including the separation of people and the disturbance of a state of affairs or mental state.

    • Lane · entry 37801

  • أَشْتَتَ

    To become distinct or clear to someone.

    A rare Form IV use in which something becomes discernible or clear to the person addressed.

    • Lane · entry 37802

  • شَتٌّ

    A state of separation, disunion, dispersion, or disorder; a disparate collection of persons or things.

    Applied to affairs, peoples, parties, assemblies, or things whose members are distinct; an assembly may consist of people from different bodies or tribes.

    • Lane · entry 37805

  • شَتِيتٌ

    Having teeth that are separate or spaced apart.

    A conventional anatomical description, especially of separated or wide-spaced foreteeth.

    • Lane · entry 37808

  • شَتَّانَ

    Different or widely separated are two things; an expression of marked difference or distance between them.

    Used in the fixed comparison شَتَّانَ بَيْنَهُمَا and related constructions, with the sense that the relation or interval between the two is greatly severed or far apart.

    • Lane · entry 37810

  • شَتَّى

    Different or widely different from one another.

    A comparative use with بَيْنَ, as in شَتَّى بَيْنَ شَيْئَيْنِ, expressing a pronounced difference between two matters.

    • Lane · entry 37810

Cautions

Points that affect how this root should be read.

  • The canonical QAC root شتت is matched to the contracted Lane and Maqayis root شت; the Quranic form and occurrence data remain those supplied by QAC.