Quranic root
ضغث
ḍ · gh · th
The root centers on the intermixture or entanglement of things with one another, especially when gathered into a single grasp.
The physical image of separate stalks or herbs collected into a handful extends figuratively to confused dreams, reports, affairs, and speech.
- Maqāyīs · row 2928
- Mufradāt · row 875
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- Quran senses
- 3
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
ضِغْثٌ
ḍighthun
- Part of speech
- 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.
A handful or bundle of gathered plant matter—such as herbage, twigs, or stalks—grasped together.
In ضِغْثًا in 38:44, it denotes a concrete bundle taken in the hand.
- Lane · entry 17829
- Mufradāt · row 875
Selected Quran examples
Quran 38:44word 3
“a bunch”
A confused medley of dreams, whose elements are mixed so that their truth or interpretation is not clear.
Used in the plural expression أَضْغَاثُ أَحْلَامٍ in 12:44 and 21:5 for incoherent or muddled dreams.
- Lane · entry 17829
- Mufradāt · row 875
Selected Quran examples
Quran 12:44word 2
“Confused”
Quran 21:5word 3
“Muddled”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 3 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
ضَغَثَ
To collect a thing or things together.
- Lane · entry 17824
ضَغَثَ
To confuse or relate a tradition, story, or similar discourse in a confused manner.
- Lane · entry 17824
ضَغَثَ
To wash a garment without fully cleansing it, leaving it in an uncleansed or dubious state.
- Lane · entry 17824
ضَغَثَ
To feel a camel’s hump to determine whether it is fat.
The object may be the hump itself or the she-camel being examined.
- Lane · entry 17824
ضَغَّثَ
To make plants or herbage into bunches or bundles.
- Lane · entry 17825
ضَغَّثَ
To pour water onto the head and divide or rub the hair into separate handfuls while washing it.
- Lane · entry 17825
أَضْغَثَ
To relate a dream confusedly.
- Lane · entry 17826
اِضْطَغَثَ
To collect a handful of herbage in which fresh and dry material are mixed.
- Lane · entry 17827
ضَغْثٌ
The state of a thing’s parts being confused or mixed with one another.
- Lane · entry 17828
ضِغْثٌ
A confused or mixed assortment, especially of news; by extension, a mixed or insincere deed or speech lacking good.
Classically applied to assorted reports, a confused affair, a deed lacking purity, and speech in which there is no good.
- Lane · entry 17829
ضِغْثٌ
A portion or bundle of worldly goods.
A figurative usage attested in traditional expression.
- Lane · entry 17829
ضَغُوثٌ
A she-camel whose fatness is uncertain and whose hump is felt to assess it; also, such a doubtful camel’s hump.
- Lane · entry 17830
ضَغِيثَةٌ
A confused company of men.
- Lane · entry 17831
تَضْغِيثٌ
Rain that moistens the earth and herbage.
- Lane · entry 17833
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic noun has two distinct attested uses here: the singular concrete bundle in 38:44 and the plural dream-medley expression in 12:44 and 21:5.
The modern verse locations shown are supplied QAC locations; historical Lane citation notation was not used to derive them.
Unassigned or ambiguous evidence
lane-unit:Dgv:17824:g3:main and lane-unit:Dgv:17832:g1:main preserve disputed cry-related entries under ضغث/ضاغث, but their own discussion corrects the spelling to ضغب/ضاغب, so they are not confidently assigned to this root.