Quranic root
ضأن
ḍ · ʾ · n
The root is centered on sheep, especially wool-bearing sheep as a livestock category, with related Classical expressions concerning sheep and their distinguishing characteristics.
The lexical field extends from the sheep designation to setting sheep apart from goats, having a numerous flock, sheep-related adjectives, and established figurative descriptions of softness or laxness.
- Maqāyīs · row 2882
- Mufradāt · row 865
- Lane · entry 17346
- Lane · entry 17347
- Lane · entry 17348
- Lane · entry 17354
- 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.
ضَأْنٌ
ḍaʾnun
- 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.
Sheep, the wool-bearing kind of livestock.
A collective or quasi-plural noun for sheep of the class called غنم, contrasted with goats; in the Quranic occurrence it appears in the construction “of sheep, two.”
- Lane · entry 17348
- Mufradāt · row 865
Selected Quran examples
Quran 6:143word 4
“the sheep”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 6:143ٱلضَّأْنِthe sheep
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 9 Classical meanings
ضَأَنَ
To set apart sheep from goats.
A transitive verb used in expressions distinguishing sheep from goats.
- Lane · entry 17346
أَضْأَنَ
To have a numerous flock of sheep; for one's sheep to become numerous.
Said of a man or a group of men in relation to their sheep.
- Lane · entry 17347
- Mufradāt · row 865
ضَأْنٌ
A name for certain species of lizards and of jerboas.
These zoological uses distinguish the named species from corresponding ماعز kinds.
- Lane · entry 17348
ضَأْنَةٌ
A camel nose-ring made of sinew.
A ring of the type used through a camel’s nose.
- Lane · entry 17351
ضِئْنِيٌّ
Relating to sheep; applied to goats that keep to sheep.
An exceptional or distorted relative adjective, used in the expression for goats that associate with sheep.
- Lane · entry 17352
ضِئْنِيٌّ
A broad or large sheep-hide skin used as a vessel for churning cultured milk.
Used of a skin vessel made from a sheep’s hide, especially in the expression سِقَاءٌ ضِئْنِيٌّ.
- Lane · entry 17352
ضَائِنٌ
A wool-bearing sheep; used adjectivally as an epithet of a ram.
The individual counterpart to ضَأْنٌ and an adjective describing a sheep or ram as wool-bearing.
- Lane · entry 17348
- Lane · entry 17354
ضَائِنٌ
Figuratively, weak or soft; of a person, soft-bodied, or of the belly, soft and flaccid.
A figurative adjectival use applied to a man or to bodily softness and laxness.
- Lane · entry 17354
ضَائِنٌ
White and broad, said of sand.
A rare, figurative or assumed-figurative description of sand.
- Lane · entry 17354
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The public headword ضَأْنٌ is normalized from the inflected Quranic form and QAC lemma display candidate.
The Quranic noun is attested once; the derived verbs, relative adjective, zoological uses, and figurative extensions are kept under broader Classical meanings rather than assigned to the Quranic occurrence.