Quranic root
علن
ʿ · l · n
The root centers on bringing something into appearance: showing, indicating, and becoming manifest rather than remaining concealed.
Its lexical development extends from an affair becoming overt, to making an affair known or public, mutual open disclosure, and عَلَانِيَةٌ as openness opposed to secrecy.
- Maqāyīs · row 3300
- Mufradāt · row 1005
- Lane · entry 4598
- Lane · entry 4600
- 2
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- Quran senses
- 16
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
أَعْلَنَ
ʾaʿlana
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- Quran occurrences
- 12 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 lay an affair open; to reveal, declare, or publish it.
An active Form IV verb for making something known or public, especially an affair, statement, or information; it contrasts in Quranic usage with concealing or keeping something secret.
- Lane · entry 4601
- Mufradāt · row 1005
Selected Quran examples
عَلَانِيَةٌ
ʿalāniyahun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 4 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.
Openness or publicity; openly, publicly, and in some adverbial contexts aloud.
A noun used adverbially, especially in contrast with secrecy; the supplied Quranic occurrences express doing something openly or publicly.
- Lane · entry 4608
- Mufradāt · row 1005
Selected Quran examples
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:77يُعْلِنُونَthey declare
- 2:274وَعَلَانِيَةًۭand openly
- 11:5يُعْلِنُونَ ۚthey reveal
- 13:22وَعَلَانِيَةًۭand publicly
- 14:31وَعَلَانِيَةًۭand publicly
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 12 Classical meanings
عَلَنَ
An affair, case, or event became overt, manifest, open, or public.
An intransitive Form I use said of an affair, case, or event.
- Lane · entry 4598
مُعَالَنَةٌ / عِلَانٌ
Mutual openness: acting openly with another, openly showing hostility, or mutually laying open what is in one's mind.
A reciprocal construction involving open dealing or mutual disclosure.
- Lane · entry 4600
أَعْلَنَ
To reveal or confess an enormity, specifically an act of adultery.
A reported specialized use of the Form IV verb, applied to a person accused of adultery; the gender of the reported subject is not a general lexical restriction.
- Lane · entry 4601
أَعْلَنَ بِهِ
To make a person publicly known.
A construction with بِـ in which the person is brought into public notice; the source presents this as an additional reported use.
- Lane · entry 4601
أَعْلَنَ الأَمْرُ
An affair, case, or event became notorious or commonly known.
An intransitive Form IV construction, equivalent to becoming publicly known.
- Lane · entry 4601
اِسْتَعْلَنَ
To seek publicity, either by seeking to be made publicly known or by desiring to make something public.
Form X expressing pursuit or desire of public disclosure or public notice.
- Lane · entry 4603
عَلْوَنْتُ
To give a title to a book or other writing.
A rare specialized Form Q.Q use applied to titling written material.
- Lane · entry 4604
عُلَنَةٌ
A person who reveals secrets or does not conceal a secret.
A personal noun describing habitual disclosure of secrets; the source's example does not restrict the meaning to men.
- Lane · entry 4606
عَلَانِيَةٌ
One's outward aspect or external self.
A substantive use opposed to the inner or concealed self.
- Lane · entry 4608
عَلَانِيَةٌ
A person whose affair or case is open or manifest.
An adjectival use describing a person characterized by public visibility.
- Lane · entry 4608
عُلْوَانٌ
The title of a book or other writing.
A nominal term for the heading or title of written material.
- Lane · entry 4610
عَالِنٌ
Overt, open, manifest, public, published, or spread.
An active participle applied to an affair, case, or event.
- Lane · entry 4611
Unassigned or ambiguous evidence
lane-unit:Eln:4603:g1:sub3 states that اِسْتَعْلَنَ is equivalent to إِعْلَانٌ but does not identify which sense of إِعْلَانٌ is intended; it is therefore not assigned to a specific meaning.