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Quranic root

عرو

ʿ · r · w

The supplied lexical evidence clusters around approaching or coming upon someone or something, and around a fastening or support that one holds to.

The record extends from arrival, affliction, and approach to physical loops and handles, enduring pasture, and figurative support. No independent Maqāyīs or Mufradāt root-level account was supplied.

  • Lane · entry 2980
  • Lane · entry 2990
2
Quran-attested forms
3
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.

اِعْتَرَى

āiʿtarā

Part of speech
Verb · Form VIII
Form
VIII
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. To come upon, befall, or seize someone.

    A Form VIII use describing an event or affliction coming upon its object.

    • Lane · entry 2980
    • Lane · entry 2983
  2. To afflict someone with possession or derangement; to render someone mentally unsound.

    The Quranic occurrence presents this as an alleged affliction or possession by an evil influence.

    • Lane · entry 2983
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 11:54word 4

    have seized you

عُرْوَةٌ

ʿurwahun

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. The firmest handhold or support to which one clings or entrusts oneself.

    In the Quranic expression العُرْوَةُ الوُثْقَى, the term denotes the strongest means of holding fast, figuratively applied to firm religious commitment or support.

    • Lane · entry 2990
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 2:256word 17

    the handhold

    Quran 31:22word 10

    the handhold

Occurrences in the Quran

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

  • 2:256بِٱلْعُرْوَةِthe handhold
  • 11:54ٱعْتَرَىٰكَhave seized you
  • 31:22بِٱلْعُرْوَةِthe handhold
View all 3 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 30 Classical meanings
  • عَرَا

    To come to or approach someone, especially in search of beneficence, bounty, aid, or a gift; also, of guests, to come to a person.

    Form I usage with a person as object; the approach may be ordinary or motivated by seeking assistance.

    • Lane · entry 2980
  • عَرَا

    Of an affair, event, malady, cold, or similar thing: to come upon, befall, or strike someone.

    Form I usage in which the subject is an event, condition, or external influence.

    • Lane · entry 2980
  • عُرِيَ

    To become affected by fever with shivering, or to tremble from fear.

    A passive or intransitive Form I usage describing the person affected.

    • Lane · entry 2980
  • عُرِيَ

    To feel want of, or yearn toward, something after having parted with it.

    Reported in a figurative construction with إِلَى, especially of property sold or relinquished.

    • Lane · entry 2980
  • عُرْوَةٌ

    A fastening, loop, or loop-shaped handle by which something is secured or held, including those of garments, loads, vessels, and water-bags.

    The literal physical sense includes a garment button-loop and the handles or fittings of various containers and loads.

    • Lane · entry 2981
    • Lane · entry 2990
  • أَعْرَى

    To assign a palm tree to a needy person so that the person may eat its fruit for a period.

    Form IV transitive usage involving the grant or assignment of a palm tree and its fruit.

    • Lane · entry 2982
  • أَعْرَى

    To leave a companion behind and withdraw without aiding him.

    A reported Form IV sense; the lexical source itself notes that it may instead belong to the related entry عَرَى.

    • Lane · entry 2982
  • أَعْرَى

    To become fevered or affected by fever; to be affected by a cold night or experience evening cold.

    Intransitive Form IV usage describing exposure to fever or cold.

    • Lane · entry 2982
  • اِعْتَرَى

    To repair to, or make for, a region or quarter.

    A Classical Form VIII directional use.

    • Lane · entry 2983
  • اِسْتَعْرَى

    Of people: to eat fresh ripe dates in every direction.

    Form X usage with the people as subject.

    • Lane · entry 2984
  • عَرًا

    A region, quarter, or vicinity.

    A nominal place-term; it can denote the area around or near a settlement.

    • Lane · entry 2985
  • عَرًا

    A yard, court, or open area around a dwelling or place of abode.

    A place-term used in expressions for settling or alighting in a court or open area.

    • Lane · entry 2985
  • عِرْوٌ

    Free from disquiet, anxiety, or grief concerning an affair; at ease or unconcerned.

    The expression أَنَا عِرْوٌ مِنْهُ means that one is free, or free in mind, from the matter.

    • Lane · entry 2987
  • عِرْوٌ

    A company or group of men.

    Usually reported in the plural form أَعْرَاءٌ.

    • Lane · entry 2987
  • عَرَاةٌ

    Vehemence or intensity of cold.

    A nominal use reported as originally related to عَرْوَةٌ.

    • Lane · entry 2988
  • عُرْوَةٌ

    The external flesh or folds at the lower part of the female external genitalia.

    An anatomical specialization; the paired structures are called عُرْوَتَانِ.

    • Lane · entry 2990
    • Lane · entry 2997
  • عُرْوَةٌ

    Vegetation or pasture that remains available during drought, especially enduring shrubs or trees on which livestock feed.

    The term may denote drought-surviving pasture, persistent shrubs, or dense trees among which camels or other livestock feed.

    • Lane · entry 2990
  • عُرْوَةٌ

    The environs of a town where people pasture their cattle.

    A place-term for the surrounding grazing area of a settlement.

    • Lane · entry 2990
  • عُرًى

    A company or party of people from whom one benefits or profits.

    A figurative plural use likening such people to enduring vegetation that provides sustenance.

    • Lane · entry 2990
  • عُرْوَةٌ

    Something held in high estimation or much request, such as an excellent animal or other prized property.

    A figurative singular use applied to valuable camels, cattle, horses, or comparable property.

    • Lane · entry 2990
  • عُرْوَةُ الصَّعَالِيكِ

    A stay or support for poor or needy people.

    An idiomatic figurative expression for a person or thing on which the needy rely.

    • Lane · entry 2990
  • عُرْوَةٌ

    A name or epithet for the lion.

    A lexicalized nominal use.

    • Lane · entry 2990
  • عُرَوَاءُ

    A tremor or shivering, especially the onset of fever; also the trembling inspired in others by the coming of a hero.

    The heroic extension is reported as an attributed Classical usage; the ordinary sense concerns shivering or the first access of fever.

    • Lane · entry 2991
  • عُرَوَاءُ

    The low voice or growl of a lion.

    A nominal animal-related use.

    • Lane · entry 2991
  • عُرَوَاءُ

    The interval from the sun's yellowing until nightfall, associated with the onset of cold and a northerly or north wind.

    A time and weather term for the cooling period between late day and night.

    • Lane · entry 2991
  • عَرِيٌّ

    An epithet for a palm tree of the type called عَرِيَّةٌ.

    An adjectival or nominal epithet applied to the tree.

    • Lane · entry 2992
  • عَرِيٌّ

    A cold wind; also, a cold evening or night.

    Used adjectivally or nominally of cold weather and the wind associated with it.

    • Lane · entry 2992
  • عَرِيَّةٌ

    A palm tree assigned by its owner to another, especially a needy person, so that the recipient may eat its fruit for a year.

    The term is also associated with a palm tree excluded from ordinary fruit-bargaining or from which the fruit has been taken or scattered, according to reported explanations.

    • Lane · entry 2993
  • عَرِيَّةٌ

    A type of basket made from palm leaves for carrying dates and similar goods.

    A separate nominal use from the palm-tree sense.

    • Lane · entry 2993
  • أُعْرُوَانٌ

    A plant, especially one whose leaves do not fall in winter.

    A plant name with an evergreen or winter-persistent characterization.

    • Lane · entry 2996

Cautions

Points that affect how this root should be read.

  • No Maqāyīs or Mufradāt evidence was supplied; the root-idea synthesis therefore relies on the supplied Lane lexical record.

  • The reported Form IV sense 'to leave a companion behind' is retained as a Classical meaning, but the source explicitly cautions that it may belong instead to the related entry عَرَى.