Quranic root
حفو
ḥ · f · w
A semantic field of going to an extreme or being worn down, extending to insistent inquiry, exceptional attentiveness, and thorough knowledge.
The supplied lexical discussion links pressing inquiry to making a hoof worn through travel, and also records related extensions such as close trimming, attentive kindness, and knowing thoroughly.
- Mufradāt · row 345
- 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.
أَحْفَى
ʾaḥfā
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- 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 press or importune someone in asking, demanding, or seeking information.
In the Quranic construction, the subject presses the addressee in a demand; the same lexical use includes persistent questioning and insistence in seeking an answer.
- Lane · entry 15060
- Mufradāt · row 345
Selected Quran examples
Quran 47:37word 3
“and press you”
حَفِيّ
ḥafiyy
- Part of speech
- Adjective
- 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.
Exceptionally kind, gracious, and benevolently attentive toward someone.
Used with بِـ for the person receiving the kindness; the Quranic occurrence in 19:47 describes gracious and considerate treatment.
- Lane · entry 15072
- Mufradāt · row 345
Selected Quran examples
Quran 19:47word 10
“Ever Gracious”
Thoroughly knowing or well informed about something.
The Quranic occurrence in 7:187 uses the adjective for being fully informed; this is distinct from its gracious-treatment use.
- Lane · entry 15072
- Mufradāt · row 345
Selected Quran examples
Quran 7:187word 26
“(were) well informed”
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 28 Classical meanings
حَفِيَ
To become barefoot, without sandals or boots.
A Form I bodily use, describing the loss or absence of footwear.
- Lane · entry 15058
حَفَاءٌ
Barefootedness: the state of being without sandals or boots.
A verbal noun associated with the Form I use of becoming or being barefoot.
- Lane · entry 15058
حَفِيَ
Of a foot or hoof, to become attenuated, chafed, abraded, or worn through walking, treading, or travel.
Applied to human feet and to the hooves of camels, horses, and similar animals.
- Lane · entry 15058
حَفِيَ بِهِ / عَنْهُ
To receive or treat someone with marked honour, kindness, affection, gentleness, solicitude, and joy; to take pains over his needs and inquire carefully into his condition.
A Form I construction expressing unusually attentive and warm treatment, including especially careful greeting or inquiry.
- Lane · entry 15058
حَفِيَ إِلَيْهِ
To exceed the usual bounds in an injunction, charge, or urging directed to someone.
The construction takes a person toward whom the excessive injunction or charge is directed.
- Lane · entry 15058
حَفَا بِهِ
To honour someone.
A Form I transitive construction distinct from حَفِيَ بِهِ.
- Lane · entry 15058
حَفَاهُ
To give something to someone.
A transitive Form I use.
- Lane · entry 15058
حَفَاهُ
To deny or refuse someone, or to withhold good from him.
A reported contrary meaning of the same transitive form.
- Lane · entry 15058
حَافَاهُ
To dispute with someone in words, vehemently or obstinately.
A Form III reciprocal or adversarial verbal use.
- Lane · entry 15059
أَحْفَى
Of an animal, to become attenuated, chafed, or abraded in the hoof.
A Form IV use describing the resulting condition of the animal's hoof.
- Lane · entry 15060
أَحْفَى
To make someone barefoot or make his feet bare of sandals or boots.
A causative Form IV use concerning footwear.
- Lane · entry 15060
أَحْفَى
To wear down or abrade a person's foot or an animal's hoof through much walking, treading, or travel.
A causative Form IV use describing physical wear of the sole or hoof.
- Lane · entry 15060
أَحْفَى
To clip the moustache very closely or to the utmost degree.
A Form IV grooming use expressing extreme closeness or thoroughness.
- Lane · entry 15060
أَحْفَى
To examine a horse's teeth thoroughly.
A specialized Form IV use of carrying an examination to the utmost degree.
- Lane · entry 15060
أَحْفَى
To urge someone to investigate news or information thoroughly.
A causative Form IV use in which one incites another to inquire or investigate to the utmost.
- Lane · entry 15060
أَحْفَى بِهِ
To despise someone or bring a fault-imputation against him so as to involve him in confusion.
A specialized Form IV hostile or disparaging construction.
- Lane · entry 15060
تَحَفَّى
To strive or labour earnestly in an affair.
A Form V use expressing exertion in a matter.
- Lane · entry 15061
تَحَفَّى
To practise an artifice or contrivance.
A separately reported Form V use.
- Lane · entry 15061
تَحَافَى
For each of two parties to bring a complaint against the other before a ruler, who refers the case to a judge.
A Form VI reciprocal legal construction.
- Lane · entry 15062
اِحْتَفَى
To pull up short or scant herbs from the ground, or to uproot something completely.
A Form VIII use associated with removing vegetation by the fingertips or extirpating it.
- Lane · entry 15063
اِحْتَفَى القَوْمُ المَرْعَى
For people or animals to consume a pasture so completely that none of its herbage remains.
A conventional Form VIII use describing exhaustive grazing.
- Lane · entry 15063
اِسْتَحْفَى
To ask or inquire after news or tidings beyond the usual bounds.
A Form X use expressing excessive persistence in seeking information.
- Lane · entry 15064
حَفٍ
Having a foot or hoof attenuated, chafed, abraded, or worn through walking, treading, or travel.
An adjectival description of a person, camel, horse, or similar animal.
- Lane · entry 15066
حِفْوَةٌ
The state of being barefoot, without sandals or boots.
One of the simple nouns used for barefootedness.
- Lane · entry 15069
حِفْوَةٌ
The state of having a foot or hoof attenuated, chafed, abraded, or worn through walking or travel.
This secondary nominal attribution is lexicographically qualified in the supplied evidence and may properly belong to a verbal noun instead.
- Lane · entry 15069
حَفِيٌّ
Excessively attentive or importunate in asking or inquiring about another's condition.
A Classical adjectival use focused on persistent inquiry, distinct from the Quranic senses of graciousness and full knowledge.
- Lane · entry 15072
حَافٍ
Walking barefoot, without sandals or boots.
An active-participial adjective; its plural is reported as حُفَاةٌ.
- Lane · entry 15074
حَافٍ
A judge.
A specialized lexical use synonymous with قَاضٍ.
- Lane · entry 15074
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The reported worn-foot sense of حِفْوَةٌ is lexicographically qualified and may properly belong to a verbal noun rather than that nominal form.