Quranic root
أني
ʾ · n · y
The root centers on reaching an appointed time, full state, or point of attainment, with related branches involving time, readiness, deliberateness, and receptacles.
The lexical field develops from due time and attainment into slowness or patient deliberation, periods of time, completion or ripeness, intense heat, and vessel terminology. These are related lexical branches, not a single meaning shared by every form.
- Maqāyīs · row 159
- 6
- Quran-attested forms
- 9
- Quran senses
- 36
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
أَنَى
ʾanā
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
To become due; have its time come or draw near.
In the Quranic occurrence, the subject is the time at which hearts should become receptive and responsive.
- Lane · entry 7393
- Mufradāt · row 56
Selected Quran examples
Quran 57:16word 2
“come (the) time”
آنٍ
ʾānin
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
Intensely hot; heated to the utmost degree.
An active participle describing water or another liquid that has reached extreme heat.
- Lane · entry 7410
- Mufradāt · row 56
Selected Quran examples
Quran 55:44word 5
“heated”
آناء
ʾānāʾ
- Part of speech
- Noun · plural
- 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.
Hours or periods of the night.
A plural time noun used with reference to devotional activity during different portions of the night.
- Lane · entry 7400
- Mufradāt · row 56
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:113word 11
“(in the) hours”
Quran 20:130word 14
“(the) hours”
آنِيَة
ʾāniyah
- Part of speech
- Noun / adjective
- 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.
Vessels or receptacles.
A plural noun referring to containers in which food or drink is placed.
- Lane · entry 7404
- Mufradāt · row 56
Selected Quran examples
Quran 76:15word 3
“vessels”
Intensely hot; fully heated.
A feminine active-participial adjective describing a spring or liquid that has reached the utmost degree of heat.
- Lane · entry 7410
- Mufradāt · row 56
Selected Quran examples
Quran 88:5word 4
“boiling”
إِنَىٰ
ʾināā
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
The appointed completion or full readiness of something; in context, its preparation or cooking being complete.
In the Quranic expression إِنَاهُ, referring to the time or state at which the food has reached readiness and is fit to be served.
- Lane · entry 7393
- Lane · entry 7401
- Mufradāt · row 56
Selected Quran examples
Quran 33:53word 16
“its preparation”
أَنَّىٰ
ʾannāā
- Part of speech
- Interrogative adverb
- Quran occurrences
- 28 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.
Whence? From where, or from what direction or source?
An interrogative asking about the origin, source, or direction from which something comes.
- Lane · entry 7408
- Lane · entry 7409
- Mufradāt · row 60
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:37word 20
“From where”
How? In what way, or how can it be possible?
An interrogative asking about manner, means, or possibility; the surrounding context determines whether the emphasis is on manner or feasibility.
- Lane · entry 7408
- Lane · entry 7409
- Mufradāt · row 60
Selected Quran examples
Quran 19:20word 2
“How”
When? At what time?
A temporal interrogative reading found in Quranic contexts where the question concerns the time of an event.
- Lane · entry 7408
- Lane · entry 7409
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:223word 6
“when”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 36 occurrencesBroader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 14 Classical meanings
أَنَى
To be behind its time; be late, delayed, or held back.
A distinct Form I branch describing lateness or falling behind, rather than the arrival of the due time.
- Lane · entry 7393
- Lane · entry 7406
أَنَى
To become thoroughly cooked or intensely heated.
Used of food becoming fully cooked and of water or hot liquid becoming heated to the utmost degree.
- Lane · entry 7393
أَنِيّ
Having reached its due time or full state; mature or ripe.
An active-participial adjective applied to a thing that has attained maturity, ripeness, or its final state.
- Lane · entry 7393
- Lane · entry 7406
أَنَّىَ
To fall short, be remiss, or fail to do what is requisite in a matter.
A Form II usage describing deficiency or negligence with respect to an undertaking.
- Lane · entry 7395
آنَى
To postpone, defer, delay, hold back, withhold, or impede.
A Form IV causative/transitive branch applied to any thing or opportunity that is delayed or restrained; its verbal noun is also reported as إِيناءٌ and أَنَاءٌ.
- Lane · entry 7396
- Lane · entry 7403
آنَى
To make distant or remote; remove, alienate, or estrange.
A separate Form IV transitive branch involving removal or estrangement rather than postponement.
- Lane · entry 7396
تَأَنَّى
To act deliberately, gently, patiently, and without haste; wait with patience.
The Form V branch may describe proceeding with moderation in an affair or waiting for a person, result, or food to be ready.
- Lane · entry 7397
- Lane · entry 7405
- Lane · entry 7410
إِنْىٌ
An hour, short period, or period of time, especially of the night.
The ordinary lexical range concerns a portion or season of the night; some authorities extend it to an entire day or to time more generally.
- Lane · entry 7400
أَنًى
The utmost point, reach, or degree of a thing; its full or final state.
A nominal branch referring to attainment of the maximum or completed state, including maturity or thorough cooking in appropriate contexts.
- Lane · entry 7401
أَنَاة
Hope or continued expectation of good from someone.
An attested noun usage in which hope is not abandoned despite a person's poor reputation.
- Lane · entry 7405
أَنَاة
A woman characterized by languor or slowness in rising and by gentle, grave, or composed deportment.
A specialized classical application; some authorities additionally describe such a woman as blessed, forbearing, compliant, or abounding in good.
- Lane · entry 7405
إِنِيهْ
An interjection expressing disapproval or treating something as remote or improbable.
An archaic expression with reported disagreement about its grammatical analysis and formation.
- Lane · entry 7407
أَنَّى
Whencesoever, wherever, whenever, or however.
An adverbial or conditional use referring to any direction, place, time, or manner; it is broader than the principal interrogative readings.
- Lane · entry 7408
- Lane · entry 7409
آتَيْتُهُ آنِيَةً بَعْدَ آنِيَةٍ
Time after time; on successive occasions.
A reported and disputed phrase; the lexical form in this expression may instead be related to آوِنَة or آئِنَة according to the cited discussion.
- Lane · entry 7411
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
أَنَّىٰ is context-sensitive: Quranic and classical interpretation may select whence, how, or when, and the form also has a broader conditional-adverbial use.
آنٍ and the adjective sense of آنِيَة are heat terms, while the noun sense of آنِيَة denotes vessels; their identical spelling does not imply identical lexical identity.
The phrase آتَيْتُهُ آنِيَةً بَعْدَ آنِيَةٍ is reported with a competing lexical analysis and is retained as a cautious classical phrase rather than a regular Quranic form.