Quranic root
عبس
ʿ · b · s
The root centers on aversion or unpleasantness, especially as expressed by a contracted, grim facial expression.
The lexical tradition connects the root with dried filth adhering to animal tails, then extends it to a distressing or severe day and to a person’s frowning, contracted face.
- Maqāyīs · row 3118
- Mufradāt · row 938
- 2
- 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.
عَبَسَ
ʿabasa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- 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.
To frown or contract the face in displeasure or distress.
The Quranic Form I perfect describes a stern or morose facial expression, including the construction عبس وتولى and the intensified sequence عبس وبسر.
- Lane · entry 1893
- Mufradāt · row 938
Selected Quran examples
Quran 80:1word 1
“He frowned”
Quran 74:22word 2
“he frowned”
عَبُوس
ʿabūs
- 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.
Distressing, harsh, or calamitous, of a day.
In its Quranic occurrence, the adjective modifies يومًا and characterizes a day as one that is hateful or severe, causing faces to contract.
- Lane · entry 1899
- Mufradāt · row 938
Selected Quran examples
Quran 76:10word 6
“harsh”
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 8 Classical meanings
عَبَّسَ
To make a face strongly frowning or contracted; to frown intensely.
Derived Form II, expressing an intensified version of the facial action.
- Lane · entry 1893
عَبَسَ
Of a day, to be or become distressful, afflictive, or calamitous.
A figurative use in which the day is described as if it had assumed a frowning character.
- Lane · entry 1893
عَبِسَ
To become dirty or filthy, or to have filth dry upon it.
Applied in Classical usage to a person becoming dirty, a garment bearing dried filth, or dirt drying upon the hand or arm.
- Lane · entry 1893
أَعْبَسَتِ الإِبِلُ
Of camels, to have dried urine and dung clinging to their tails.
A conventional Form IV animal-use construction.
- Lane · entry 1895
عَبَسٌ
Dried urine and dung clinging to the tails or thighs of camels, or to the wool, tails, and related surfaces of sheep, goats, and similar animals.
A substantive noun for adhered animal filth after it has dried.
- Lane · entry 1897
عَبَسٌ
A slave’s habitual urination in or on his bed, with its effects appearing on the person and bedding.
A technical or legal usage; a small and infrequent occurrence is explicitly excluded from the stated condition.
- Lane · entry 1893
عَابِسٌ
A frowning, stern, austere, or morose person; one whose face is hateful to encounter.
May describe someone who displays this expression habitually or intensely.
- Lane · entry 1902
عَابِسٌ
A lion; in a specialized description, the lion from whom other lions flee.
A lexical animal designation derived from the image of fierceness or grimness.
- Lane · entry 1902
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic adjective عَبُوس occurs with يومًا and is therefore presented with its attested day-related meaning; the broader frowning-person adjective is recorded separately under عَابِسٌ.