Quranic root
حري
ḥ · r · y
The supplied lexical evidence centers on directing oneself toward a side, place, or goal, while also preserving a distinct branch of diminution after increase.
Spatial orientation is extended to deliberate pursuit of an object and to seeking what is most suitable; related lexical branches express aptitude, probability, and comparative suitability. A separate branch describes something waning after growth, with a specialized use for an aged, wasted viper.
- Mufradāt · row 317
- Lane · entry 14259
- Lane · entry 14261
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 1
- Quran senses
- 1
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
تَحَرَّى
taḥarrā
- 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 seek, aim at, pursue, or endeavor to attain a goal or object.
In the Quranic occurrence, the object is right guidance or a right course; the construction expresses deliberate pursuit of that goal.
- Lane · entry 14261
- Mufradāt · row 317
Selected Quran examples
Quran 72:14word 9
“have sought”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 72:14تَحَرَّوْا۟have sought
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
حَرَى
To decrease, diminish, or wane after having increased.
Used of a thing that diminishes or wanes, such as the moon.
- Lane · entry 14259
- Mufradāt · row 317
حَرَى
Perhaps; it may be that.
Used in the construction حَرَى أَنْ يَكُونَ ذٰلِكَ, meaning that something may or might be so.
- Lane · entry 14259
حَرِيَ
To be adapted, suited, fit, competent, or worthy for something.
Constructed with بِ and the relevant object or matter; the sense concerns suitability or deservingness.
- Lane · entry 14259
أَحْرَى
To cause something to decrease, diminish, or wane.
The subject is stated to be time, which causes a thing to diminish.
- Lane · entry 14260
أَحْرَى
More or most suitable, apt, proper, or worthy; how suitable or worthy.
Used comparatively, as in أَحْرَى بِذٰلِكَ, and in exclamatory constructions such as مَا أَحْرَاهُ and أَحْرِ بِهِ.
- Lane · entry 14260
- Lane · entry 14269
حَرًى
The vicinity, quarter, tract, region, or environs of a person, people, or house.
The word may denote the surrounding area or local quarter; its plural is reported as أَحْرَاءٌ.
- Lane · entry 14262
حَرِيٌّ
Adapted, apt, suitable, proper, or worthy.
Used predicatively with بِ or with an أن-clause to state that a person, thing, or matter is suited or worthy to do or receive something.
- Lane · entry 14265
حَرِيٌّ
Probable or likely.
Predicated of a person or thing to indicate that an event is likely to happen, or has probably happened or been so.
- Lane · entry 14265
حَارٍ
Aged and wasted in body; specifically, an epithet applied to a viper in this condition and regarded as especially malignant.
The specialized epithet describes a viper whose body has diminished through age, leaving it particularly noxious.
- Lane · entry 14267
- Mufradāt · row 317
تَحَرَّى
To seek or repair to the vicinity, quarter, tract, or region of a people.
This spatial construction takes a place or a people's vicinity as its object.
- Lane · entry 14261
تَحَرَّى
To seek what is most suitable, proper, or deserving among alternatives.
Used of deliberating in an affair, especially choosing between two things according to the judgment that seems strongest.
- Lane · entry 14261
تَحَرَّى
To tarry, wait, or pause in expectation.
The construction is reported with بِالمكان, ‘at the place.’
- Lane · entry 14261
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The QAC morphology identifies the supplied form group as Verb · Form I, while the directly corresponding Lane lexical entry classifies تَحَرَّى as Form V. The public headword follows the normalized perfect citation shape تَحَرَّى, while the supplied QAC form identity, occurrence count, and morphology fields are retained.