Quranic root
عتل
ʿ · t · l
The root denotes force, hardness, and strength, especially force exerted in handling or moving something.
The semantic range develops from heavy, strong implements and physical force to forcibly drawing or dragging, and further to descriptions of rough, harsh, or coarse character.
- Maqāyīs · row 3131
- Mufradāt · row 943
- Lane · entry 2029
- Lane · entry 2037
- 2
- Quran-attested forms
- 3
- Quran senses
- 2
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
عَتَلَ
ʿatala
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- 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.
To seize hold of someone, push or thrust him, and drag or drive him away roughly and violently.
The Quranic construction takes an object and directs it toward a destination; the forceful manner is integral. In the supplied occurrence, the destination is the middle of Hell.
- Lane · entry 2029
- Mufradāt · row 943
Selected Quran examples
Quran 44:47word 2
“and drag him”
عُتُلّ
ʿutull
- 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.
A voracious, withholding person who roughly takes or drags things to himself.
One explanation of the Quranic occurrence in 68:13 centers on excessive eating, refusal to give, and rough handling.
- Lane · entry 2037
- Mufradāt · row 943
Selected Quran examples
Quran 68:13word 1
“Cruel”
A gross, coarse, harsh, churlish, or cruel person, low or mean in disposition, vehement in quarrel, resistant to admonition, or unwilling to be led toward good.
Another Quran-attested explanation of the occurrence in 68:13 emphasizes harsh character and resistance to correction or goodness rather than appetite.
- Lane · entry 2037
Selected Quran examples
Quran 68:13word 1
“Cruel”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 2 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 21 Classical meanings
عَتَلَ
To lead a she-camel roughly or violently by taking hold of its nose-rein.
Used in the construction عَتَلَ النَّاقَةَ.
- Lane · entry 2029
عَتِلَ
To hasten or be quick to do evil or mischief.
- Lane · entry 2029
عَتِلٌ
A man who hastens or is quick to do evil or mischief.
- Lane · entry 2035
مُعَاتَلَةٌ
Mutual pushing or thrusting, roughly or violently.
This is the reciprocal Form III verbal noun.
- Lane · entry 2031
اِنْعَتَلَ
To be drawn or dragged roughly or violently, or to submit to being led.
An intransitive or passive-like Form VII usage.
- Lane · entry 2033
اِنْعَتَلَ
To leave one's place or come along with someone.
A conventional usage in the expression لا أَنْعَتِلُ مَعَكَ, literally used in the negative for refusing to go along.
- Lane · entry 2033
عَتَلَةٌ
A carpenter's auger, wimble, or gimlet.
- Lane · entry 2036
عَتَلَةٌ
An iron implement for pulling up or cutting young palm shoots, palm branches, or grape-vine shoots.
- Lane · entry 2036
عَتَلَةٌ
A broad-headed iron tool for digging or excavating earth and walls, or for demolishing walls.
- Lane · entry 2036
عَتَلَةٌ
A thick wooden staff, including a shoulder-pole used by two men to carry burdens.
- Lane · entry 2036
عَتَلَةٌ
A Persian bow or a strong bow.
- Lane · entry 2036
عَتَلَةٌ
A large clod of clay or cohesive earth pulled from the ground during ploughing.
- Lane · entry 2036
عَتَلَةٌ
A she-camel that does not conceive and is consequently always strong.
- Lane · entry 2036
عُتُلٌّ
Gross, coarse, rough, and strong in bodily constitution.
Applied to a man or beast, and according to some authorities to anything.
- Lane · entry 2037
عُتُلٌّ
A thick spear.
- Lane · entry 2037
عُتُلٌّ
A hard mountain.
- Lane · entry 2037
عَتِيلٌ
A hired man, hireling, or servant.
- Lane · entry 2038
عَتِيلٌ
A violent or severe disease or malady.
- Lane · entry 2038
عَتَّالٌ
A porter or carrier of burdens for hire, using a shoulder-pole.
- Lane · entry 2039
عَاتِلٌ
An aide or officer of the prefect of the police.
- Lane · entry 2040
مِعْتَلٌ
Strong in drawing or dragging something roughly or violently.
- Lane · entry 2041
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic adjective عُتُلّ in 68:13 has several closely related classical explanations, including appetite and withholding, rough handling, and harsh or coarse character; the two numbered senses preserve these materially distinct interpretive branches.
The Quranic verb is attested in an imperative inflection, but the public headword is the normalized Form I perfect citation form عَتَلَ.