Quranic root
ضنك
ḍ · n · k
The root has two principal semantic orientations: constriction or straitness, and illness.
The constriction branch extends from narrowness of place to straitened life, sustenance, and hardship. A distinct branch denotes coryza and disease; other Classical derivatives attest compactness, firmness, and weakness without collapsing them into the Qur'anic adjective.
- Maqāyīs · row 2955
- Mufradāt · row 881
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- 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.
ضَنْكٌ
ḍankun
- Part of speech
- Adjective
- 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.
Narrow, straitened, and hardship-laden.
In the Quranic construction مَعِيشَةً ضَنْكًا, it describes a constricted or difficult life or means of subsistence.
- Lane · entry 18048
- Mufradāt · row 881
Selected Quran examples
Quran 20:124word 8
“straitened”
Unlawful or forbidden, specifically of livelihood.
A reported interpretation of مَعِيشَةً ضَنْكًا understands the expression as forbidden livelihood or gain, even when materially abundant; this is a specialized interpretation alongside the basic sense of straitness.
- Lane · entry 18048
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 20:124ضَنكًۭاstraitened
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 11 Classical meanings
ضَنُكَ / ضَنْكٌ
To become narrow or strait; narrowness, straitness, and hardship.
The verb is used of a place becoming narrow; related nominal and adjectival forms describe narrow places, constricted life or sustenance, and narrow things generally.
- Lane · entry 18046
- Lane · entry 18048
ضَنُكَ / ضَنِيكٌ
To be weak in body, intellect, judgment, or soul; weak in those respects.
Applied to a person or to the corresponding adjectival description.
- Lane · entry 18046
- Lane · entry 18054
ضَنُكَ
To become thick, gathered together, and dense.
Said of clouds.
- Lane · entry 18046
ضُنِكَ
To become afflicted with coryza or a discharge from the head and nose.
Describes the person affected by the nasal illness.
- Lane · entry 18046
أَضْنَكَهُ
To cause someone to be afflicted with coryza or nasal discharge.
A causative construction referring to causing another person to suffer the illness.
- Lane · entry 18047
ضُنَاكٌ
Coryza, or a defluxion from the head and nose.
A noun for the nasal illness also called zukām.
- Lane · entry 18052
ضِنَاكٌ / ضُنْأَكٌ
Compact, plump, or firmly built, with abundant flesh; robust or large in build.
Applied to people, camels, and trees; of a she-camel it can refer particularly to a thick hind part, and of trees to substantial size.
- Lane · entry 18053
- Lane · entry 18055
مُضْنَكٌ
Affected by a constant or chronic pervasive disease, or emaciated by disease to the point of death.
Describes a person whose bodily condition has been severely affected by illness.
- Lane · entry 18056
مَضْنُوكٌ
Affected by the illness called ضُنَاكٌ, coryza.
A passive description of someone suffering from that nasal illness.
- Lane · entry 18057
ضَنِيكٌ
A servant who works for his bread.
A specialized social description of a person supporting himself through such service.
- Lane · entry 18054
ضَنِيكٌ
Cut off or severed.
Reported as an equivalent of مَقْطُوعٌ.
- Lane · entry 18054
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The sole Quran occurrence is the adjective ضَنْكًا in a livelihood construction; the public headword is normalized to the citation form ضَنْكٌ.
The Quranic phrase has competing exegetical readings, including punishment of the grave and Hell. These are treated as interpretations of the phrase rather than additional lexical senses; forbidden livelihood is retained as a separately reported lexical specialization.