Quranic root
عسي
ʿ · s · y
The root is oriented toward nearness or likelihood: what is near is expected, hoped for, or feared.
In عَسَى, the notion of nearness is grammaticalized into expectation—“may,” “perhaps,” or “be likely to.” In divine Quranic speech, this expectation is ordinarily treated as an assured occurrence, with a specific exception.
- Lane · entry 3282
- Mufradāt · row 977
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- Quran senses
- 30
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
عَسَى
ʿasā
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 30 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 be near or likely to happen; hence to express expectation, hope, or apprehension—“may,” “perhaps,” or “be likely to.”
Usually appears as a defective preterite with present or future reference. It commonly takes أَنْ followed by an imperfect verb, either with an overt subject or with the clause functioning as its subject. It may also be followed, less commonly, by a bare imperfect, سَ plus an imperfect, or a nominal expression, and it rarely takes an attached pronoun with syntax paralleling لعلّ. With a desired outcome it conveys hope; with an undesired outcome, apprehension. In the Quranic interrogative هَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ, it asks whether the hearers are near or likely to perform the stated action.
- Lane · entry 3282
- Mufradāt · row 977
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:216word 7
“But perhaps”
Quran 2:246word 24
“you perhaps”
In divine Quranic speech, to present an anticipated event as assured or necessarily occurring rather than as divine hope.
The lexical account treats divine uses as expressing necessary occurrence throughout the Quran except عَسَى رَبُّهُ إِنْ طَلَّقَكُنَّ أَنْ يُبْدِلَهُ أَزْوَاجًا خَيْرًا مِنْكُنَّ (66:5), where the ordinary possibility or expectation remains. The wording directs human hope and does not imply that God Himself hopes.
- Lane · entry 3282
- Mufradāt · row 977
Selected Quran examples
Quran 5:52word 13
“But perhaps”
Quran 66:5word 1
“Perhaps”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:216وَعَسَىٰٓBut perhaps
- 2:216وَعَسَىٰٓand perhaps
- 2:246عَسَيْتُمْyou perhaps
- 4:19فَعَسَىٰٓthen perhaps
- 4:84عَسَىperhaps
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
عَسَى
To express an opinion or doubt, and in some contexts certainty.
An additional Classical Arabic epistemic use in which the force is determined by context and may range from tentative judgment to certainty.
- Lane · entry 3282
أَعْسِ بِهِ
How apt, well suited, competent, proper, or worthy he is!
An exclamatory Form IV construction used to praise someone’s fitness or suitability for something.
- Lane · entry 3283
بِالعَسَى
In بِالعَسَى أَنْ تَفْعَلَ: it is suitable or proper that you do something.
A fixed prepositional expression conveying propriety or fitness for the action introduced by أَنْ.
- Lane · entry 3284
عَسِيٌّ بِهِ
Naturally apt, adapted, suited, competent, proper, or worthy for or of something.
An adjectival description of a person’s inherent fitness or disposition toward an object or action.
- Lane · entry 3286
مِعْسَآءٌ
A girl thought to have reached puberty, or one near reaching puberty.
A specialized noun for a girl’s transitional stage near puberty.
- Lane · entry 3288
مَعْسَاةٌ
A person regarded as a fitting candidate for an anticipated action or outcome; someone from whom an action, such as doing good, may be expected.
Used of a person, including females, pairs, and plural groups, as suitably disposed toward the anticipated outcome.
- Lane · entry 3289
مُعْسِيَةٌ
A she-camel whose milk is uncertain—either it may still be present or, having stopped, it is hoped to return.
A specialized term for a she-camel with doubtful or potentially returning milk.
- Lane · entry 3290
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
Classical grammarians dispute whether عَسَى is an incomplete verb, a complete verb, or admits several related syntactic analyses; these differences do not require separate lexical senses here.
The ordinary translations “perhaps” and “may” do not always reflect the Classical account of divine Quranic usage, which is generally treated as assured except in 66:5.