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Quranic root

عصي

ʿ · ṣ · y

The securely matched lexical branch centers on refusal of obedience: withholding compliance and opposing an authority.

A shared discussion relates عِصْيَان to departing from obedience and figuratively to withholding oneself; its separate عَصَا “staff” material is not assigned here as a direct meaning of this root.

  • Lane · entry 3537
  • Lane · entry 3543
  • Mufradāt · row 980
4
Quran-attested forms
4
Quran senses
32
Quran occurrences

Forms in the Quran

The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.

عَصَى

ʿaṣā

Part of speech
Verb · Form I
Form
I
Quran occurrences
27 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.

  1. To disobey, oppose, or rebel against an authority; to fail to obey.

    Used for refusal of compliance with a person, command, or authority, whether or not the object is expressed.

    • Lane · entry 3537
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 4:14word 2

    disobeys

    Quran 26:216word 2

    they disobey you

    Quran 66:6word 16

    they disobey

عَصِيّ

ʿaṣiyy

Part of speech
Adjective / substantivized noun
Quran occurrences
2 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.

  1. Very disobedient or rebellious.

    An intensive epithet relative to عَاصٍ; it may function adjectivally or substantivally.

    • Lane · entry 3545
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 19:14word 6

    disobedient

    Quran 19:44word 9

    disobedient

عِصْيَان

ʿiṣyān

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.

  1. Disobedience or rebellion; the contrary of obedience.

    A verbal noun or simple substantive naming the condition or act of refusing obedience.

    • Lane · entry 3537
    • Lane · entry 3543
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 49:7word 25

    and disobedience

مَعْصِيَة

maʿṣiyah

Part of speech
Noun
Quran occurrences
2 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.

  1. Disobedience or rebellion.

    A noun of the disobedience branch, referring to noncompliance with an authority or command.

    • Lane · entry 3537
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 58:8word 16

    and disobedience

    Quran 58:9word 10

    and disobedience

Occurrences in the Quran

Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.

  • 2:61عَصَوا۟they disobeyed
  • 2:93وَعَصَيْنَاand we disobeyed
  • 3:112عَصَوا۟they disobeyed
  • 3:152وَعَصَيْتُمand you disobeyed
  • 4:14يَعْصِdisobeys
View all 32 occurrences

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 7 Classical meanings
  • عَصَى

    To face the quarter from which the wind blows, presenting one’s front rather than one’s side.

    An assumed tropical usage, in the construction عَصَى الرِّيحَ.

    • Lane · entry 3537
  • تَعَصَّى

    Of an affair, to be or become difficult.

    Used of an affair or matter that proves difficult.

    • Lane · entry 3539
  • تَعَاصَى

    To feign disobedience or rebellion; to manifest noncompliance.

    A derived Form VI usage describing displayed or pretended incompliance.

    • Lane · entry 3540
  • اِعْتَصَى

    Of a date-stone, to be or become hard.

    Attested in the construction اِعْتَصَتِ النَّوَاةُ.

    • Lane · entry 3541
  • عَاصٍ

    One who disobeys or rebels; disobedient or rebellious.

    The ordinary active-participial term, distinguished from the intensive عَصِيّ.

    • Lane · entry 3545
  • عَاصٍ

    A young camel that disobeys its mother and does not follow her.

    A specialized appellation explicitly applied to a young camel.

    • Lane · entry 3545
  • عَاصٍ

    A vein that will not cease bleeding.

    A tropical lexical usage; the cited plural is العَوَاصِي.

    • Lane · entry 3545

Cautions

Points that affect how this root should be read.

  • The Quranic عَصِيّ is treated separately from the Classical headword عَاصٍ because the supplied lexical evidence describes عَصِيّ as the intensive epithet.

  • The supplied Mufradat entry is shared between ESw and ESy and combines staff-related and disobedience-related material; its staff branch is therefore not used as a direct Quranic sense here.

Unassigned or ambiguous evidence

  • mufradat:row:980 is a shared/composite entry assigned to both ESw and ESy. Its عَصَا “staff” and striking-with-sword material cannot be assigned uniquely to ESy, although its disobedience discussion is consistent with the independently supported Lane branch.