Quranic root
أثر
ʾ · th · r
The root develops three closely related orientations: placing something first or giving it precedence, transmitting or recounting something received, and a remaining mark, trace, or remnant.
The lexical branches extend from precedence and preference to reports handed down from earlier people, and to physical or figurative traces that remain after an event or action.
- Maqāyīs · row 27
- Mufradāt · row 14
- 4
- Quran-attested forms
- 5
- 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.
أَثَرَ
ʾathara
- 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 be transmitted, recited, or repeated as received from another.
Used here in the passive imperfect for a saying or discourse represented as something handed down or repeated; the contextual rendering “imitated” does not establish a separate imitation sense.
- Lane · entry 6117
- Mufradāt · row 14
Selected Quran examples
Quran 74:24word 6
“imitated”
آثَرَ
ʾāthara
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- Quran occurrences
- 5 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.
To prefer, favor, choose, or give precedence to one person or thing over another.
The construction may express preferring someone over oneself or another, choosing something, or favoring one option or value over another.
- Lane · entry 6119
- Mufradāt · row 14
Selected Quran examples
Quran 59:9word 18
“but prefer”
Quran 12:91word 4
“Allah has preferred you”
Quran 87:16word 2
“You prefer”
أَثَارَةٌ
ʾathārahun
- Part of speech
- Verbal 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 surviving remnant or transmitted record of knowledge from earlier generations.
In the Quranic construction أَوْ أَثَارَةٍ مِنْ عِلْمٍ, the remnant may be something transmitted orally or preserved in writing.
- Lane · entry 6136
- Mufradāt · row 14
Selected Quran examples
Quran 46:4word 24
“a trace”
أَثَرٌ
ʾatharun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 14 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 remaining trace, remnant, mark, footprint, track, sign, or visible effect of something.
The Quranic noun covers physical traces and footprints as well as indications or impressions left by an event or thing. In expressions such as في أثره and على أثره, it denotes following after someone or something, literally as though following the footsteps.
- Lane · entry 6126
- Mufradāt · row 14
Selected Quran examples
Quran 18:6word 5
“their footsteps”
Quran 20:84word 5
“my tracks”
Quran 30:50word 3
“(the) effects”
Quran 36:12word 8
“and their footprints”
Quran 40:21word 18
“and (in) impressions”
The continuing effects or consequences of a person’s good and evil life, including its resulting reward or punishment.
This is a Quran-attested interpretive use of آثارهم for what remains consequentially from people’s deeds after their actions.
- Lane · entry 6126
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 5:46ءَاثَـٰرِهِمtheir footsteps
- 12:91ءَاثَرَكَAllah has preferred you
- 18:6ءَاثَـٰرِهِمْtheir footsteps
- 18:64ءَاثَارِهِمَاtheir footprints
- 20:72نُّؤْثِرَكَwe will prefer you
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 37 Classical meanings
أَثَرَ
To mark or score the underside of a camel’s foot so that its footprints can be recognized and tracked.
A specialized practice using an iron instrument to make a traceable mark on the foot.
- Lane · entry 6117
أَثَرَ
For a male camel, to have intercourse with a female camel.
A specialized zoological usage.
- Lane · entry 6117
أَثِرَ
To devote one’s undivided attention to an affair.
Describes applying the mind wholly to the matter at hand.
- Lane · entry 6117
أَثِرَ
To determine, resolve, or purpose to do something.
Used of forming a firm intention or decision.
- Lane · entry 6117
أَثَّرَ
To make, leave, or cause an impression, mark, scar, or effect upon someone or something.
Used of physical marks such as those made by a sword or blow, and figuratively of influence or impact.
- Lane · entry 6118
أَثَّرَ
To cause one thing to be followed by another.
A conventional causative construction describing ordered succession.
- Lane · entry 6118
آثَرَ
To honor or show particular respect to someone.
A Classical usage distinct from preferring one option or person over another.
- Lane · entry 6119
تَأَثَّرَ
To receive an impression or mark, or to become affected, impressed, or influenced.
The form expresses undergoing the effect rather than causing it.
- Lane · entry 6120
ائْتَثَرَ
To follow someone’s footsteps, especially diligently or perseveringly.
Used of persistent tracking or close pursuit.
- Lane · entry 6121
اسْتَأْثَرَ
To appropriate something exclusively for oneself or choose the best portion for oneself over others.
The construction may be استأثر بالشيء or استأثر على أصحابه; it describes exclusive possession or self-preference.
- Lane · entry 6122
اسْتَأْثَرَ
To take someone exclusively to oneself, used euphemistically of death.
Especially used in the expression استأثر الله بفلان, implying that God took the person to Himself and that good is hoped for him.
- Lane · entry 6122
أَثْرٌ
The variegated grain, streaks, lustre, or glitter of a sword.
A technical description of the patterned or shining surface of a blade.
- Lane · entry 6123
أُثْرٌ
A scar remaining after a wound has healed.
A lasting mark on the body.
- Lane · entry 6124
أُثْرٌ
A mark made on the underside of a camel’s foot to make its footprints traceable.
Refers either to the mark itself or to the marked foot in this specialized practice.
- Lane · entry 6124
أُثْرٌ
Lustre or brightness of the face.
A bodily appearance characterized by visible radiance.
- Lane · entry 6124
إِثْرٌ
The clarified residue of butter, or, according to another usage, the milk left when the butter has separated.
A culinary and dairy term with variant explanations in the lexical tradition.
- Lane · entry 6125
أَثَرٌ
A transmitted tradition, report, narrative, or account handed down from earlier authorities.
In technical usage it may refer especially to reports from the Companions or to inherited religious practice, though it can also denote a report more generally.
- Lane · entry 6126
- Lane · entry 6142
أَثَرٌ
A person’s origin or known lineage.
Used in expressions asking where someone’s origin is known to be.
- Lane · entry 6126
أَثَرٌ
The term or period of a person’s life.
Explained as what follows life, or as a metaphor from footprints ceasing after death.
- Lane · entry 6126
أَثُرٌ
A person who chooses the good portions or good qualities for himself in preference to his companions.
A personal وصف describing self-preference in division or allocation.
- Lane · entry 6127
أُثْرَةٌ
A mark or abrasion made on the underside of a camel’s foot so that its footprints can be recognized.
The mark may be made with the instrument called مِئْثَرَة or تُؤْثُور.
- Lane · entry 6131
أُثْرَةٌ
A preference, special favor, or favored status.
Used of having precedence in someone’s estimation or being a favorite with a person of authority.
- Lane · entry 6131
أُثْرَةٌ
Dearth, scarcity, drought, sterility, or an unpleasant condition.
A separate nominal usage describing an adverse state or lack of productivity.
- Lane · entry 6131
أَثَرَةٌ
Appropriating something exclusively for oneself, or choosing and taking the best portion for oneself.
Describes self-preference in distribution, especially taking the best share instead of sharing it.
- Lane · entry 6133
أَثَارَةٌ
A residue or remnant, such as old fat remaining on which animals have become fat, or anger that still remains.
Classical uses extend the idea of a remaining portion to physical residue and a lingering emotional state.
- Lane · entry 6136
أَثِيرٌ
Describing a beast that makes a large footprint.
Used particularly of an animal’s hoof or soft foot.
- Lane · entry 6135
أَثِيرٌ
A person possessing power or authority, or one who is honored.
A personal adjective with a plural أُثَرَاءُ.
- Lane · entry 6135
أَثِيرٌ
A particular friend, favorite, or person specially preferred by another.
Used in constructions expressing favored status or personal preference.
- Lane · entry 6135
أَثِيرٌ
Abundant, copious, or numerous.
An imitative or echoic intensifying usage in the expression شيء كثير أثِير.
- Lane · entry 6135
الأَثِيرُ
The ether, conceived in cosmology as the highest sphere governing the other spheres.
A technical cosmological term, explained through its supposed influence on other spheres.
- Lane · entry 6135
آثِرٌ
One who relates or recites a tradition, narrative, or story as received from another.
Describes a transmitter or narrator of inherited reports.
- Lane · entry 6137
آثِرٌ
First, foremost, or preferentially; with care and precedence.
Appears in idioms meaning to do something first of all, at least, or in preference to another thing.
- Lane · entry 6137
مَأْثُرَةٌ
A generous quality or action inherited or transmitted from one’s ancestors; a deed bringing glory.
May denote an inherited virtue, a traditionally recounted noble deed, or a ground for pride and precedence.
- Lane · entry 6140
مِئْثَرَةٌ
An iron instrument used to mark or scrape the underside of a camel’s foot so that its footprints can be traced.
A specialized tracking implement; the saddle term مِيثَرَة is distinguished in pronunciation and meaning.
- Lane · entry 6141
مَأْثُورٌ
A camel whose foot has been marked or scraped so that its footprints can be recognized.
A passive descriptive adjective referring to the result of the camel-marking practice.
- Lane · entry 6142
مَأْثُورٌ
A sword with distinctive wavy grain or lustre, or an ancient sword handed down through eminent owners.
The word can describe the blade’s patterned surface or its inherited antiquity and prestige.
- Lane · entry 6142
مَأْثُورٌ
Handed-down as a tradition, narrative, or report.
Used of material transmitted from one generation or person to another.
- Lane · entry 6142
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The printed Lane Quran citation for آثارهم uses historical notation (“Kur. xxxvi. 11”); it has not been converted directly into a modern verse location. Modern Quran examples here use only locations independently supplied by QAC.
The contextual rendering “imitated” for يُؤْثَرُ is presented under the independently supported transmission/recitation branch; the packet does not establish a separate Quranic lexical sense meaning imitation.