Quranic root
أثل
ʾ · th · l
The root centers on an established origin or firm base, together with things gathered into a stable whole.
Its imagery begins with the firmly rooted tree and extends to becoming established, accumulating wealth or resources, strengthening dominion, and figuratively acquiring durable honor or standing. Some derived uses apply the idea to collecting debts, provisions, people, or water from a well.
- Maqāyīs · row 29
- Mufradāt · row 15
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 1
- Quran senses
- 1
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
أَثْلٌ
ʾathlun
- 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.
A tamarisk or tamarisk-like tree, characterized as firmly rooted.
The Quranic occurrence names the tree in a list of vegetation; the classical description compares it with the ṭarfāʾ and emphasizes its established root and useful wood.
- Lane · entry 6157
- Mufradāt · row 15
Selected Quran examples
Quran 34:16word 12
“and tamarisks”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 34:16وَأَثْلٍۢand tamarisks
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 27 Classical meanings
أَثَلَ
To take root or a foundation; to become firm, established, or firmly rooted; of dominion, to become great.
Form I, generally intransitive; the application to dominion includes becoming established or great.
- Lane · entry 6154
أَثُلَ
Of a person of high rank or nobility, to be or become ancient in origin or long-standing.
A Form I vocalic variant used of rank or nobility.
- Lane · entry 6154
أَثَّلَ
To give something a root or firm foundation; to make it stable, established, lasting, or great.
Form II causative use, applied especially to dominion, property, or other things made durable.
- Lane · entry 6155
أَثَّلَ
To impose or make a duty binding on someone.
An idiomatic interpretation of the construction أَثَّلَ عَلَيْهِ; the lexical explanation compares imposing a payment or obligation with establishing it against someone.
- Lane · entry 6155
أَثَّلَ
To increase wealth or property, or put it into a good and sound condition; intransitively, to become abundant in wealth.
Form II transitive and intransitive uses concerning wealth or property.
- Lane · entry 6155
أَثَّلَ
To reinforce or enlarge a party by adding men to it.
Used with a person or party as the object of multiplication.
- Lane · entry 6155
أَثَّلَ
To collect debts against someone.
The object is the person against whom the debts are accumulated.
- Lane · entry 6155
أَثَّلَ
To clothe one's family in excellent clothing and treat them well.
A benefactive household use of Form II.
- Lane · entry 6155
تَأَثَّلَ
To become firmly fixed or established.
An intransitive Form V development of the notion of acquiring or possessing a firm root.
- Mufradāt · row 15
تَأَثَّلَ
To become collected or gathered together.
Form V intransitive use describing things coming together as a whole.
- Lane · entry 6156
تَأَثَّلَ
To obtain provisions for oneself, especially after a period of need.
The acquired item is أَثْلَة, understood here as food or provisions.
- Lane · entry 6156
تَأَثَّلَ
To acquire or accumulate a source, stock, or fund of wealth or property.
Form V use of taking wealth for oneself as a lasting source or reserve.
- Lane · entry 6156
تَأَثَّلَ
To take wealth or property from other people.
A specialized Form V construction in which the wealth is obtained from people.
- Lane · entry 6156
تَأَثَّلَ
To dig a well for oneself.
The well is treated as a newly acquired source of water.
- Lane · entry 6156
أَثْلٌ
A collector of wealth or property.
Used in the expression فُلَانٌ أَثْلُ مَالٍ.
- Lane · entry 6157
أَثْلَةٌ
Honor, reputation, or inherited grounds for respect, including ancestral merit or standing.
A figurative use; impugning or detracting from someone's أَثْلَة means attacking their reputation or claims to honor.
- Lane · entry 6158
أَثْلَةٌ
The root, foundation, origin, or source of a thing, person, or wealth; a stock or fund.
Used broadly of anything with an origin or foundation, including a source of property.
- Lane · entry 6158
أَثْلَةٌ
Victuals or provisions.
A separate nominal use, synonymous with مِيرَةٌ.
- Lane · entry 6158
أَثْلَةٌ
The goods, furniture, and utensils of a house or tent.
Refers collectively to household equipment and possessions.
- Lane · entry 6158
أَثْلَةٌ
Apparatus, accoutrements, implements, or similar equipment.
Used of equipment assembled for a purpose, such as winter preparations.
- Lane · entry 6158
أَثَالٌ
Glory, honor, dignity, nobility, or high rank.
A figurative nominal use; both أَثَالٌ and أُثَالٌ are reported vocalizations.
- Lane · entry 6160
أَثَالٌ
Wealth or property.
A figurative nominal use distinct from the related sense of glory or rank.
- Lane · entry 6160
أَثِيلٌ
A place where trees of the arāk kind grow.
The source reports this sense with a possible textual confusion or mistranscription for أَثْل.
- Lane · entry 6161
أَثِيلٌ
Abundant, luxuriant, or long hair.
An adjective describing the quantity, luxuriance, or length of hair.
- Lane · entry 6161
مُؤَثَّلٌ
Rooted, founded, firmly established, permanent, or of ancient origin; figuratively, established in honor, rank, or wealth.
An active-result adjective applied to things, dominion, glory, nobility, and property.
- Lane · entry 6163
مُؤَثَّلٌ
Prepared, arranged, disposed, or put into a good and proper condition.
A result-state adjective describing something made ready or set in order.
- Lane · entry 6163
مُتَأَثِّلٌ
Taking for oneself or acquiring a source, stock, or fund of wealth or property.
The participial form describes accumulation of property as a personal reserve or lasting fund.
- Lane · entry 6164
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic occurrence is securely located by QAC at 34:16:12. A classical printed citation rendered as xxxiv. 15 is not used to infer an alternate modern Quran location.
Botanical descriptions identify أَثْلٌ as tamarisk or a closely related tamarisk-like tree and vary in their precise classification.
The reported أَثِيلٌ sense meaning a place of tree growth is retained separately because its source notes that the word may be a textual mistranscription for أَثْل.