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Quranic root

حوذ

ḥ · w · dh

The root centers on lightness, swiftness, and concentrated movement, especially forceful driving or gathering.

The evidence extends forceful herding and rapid movement into mastery and control, and further into efficient, skillful management of affairs.

  • Maqāyīs · row 1470
  • Mufradāt · row 369
  • Lane · entry 16011
1
Quran-attested forms
1
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.

اِسْتَحْوَذَ

āistaḥwadha

Part of speech
Verb · Form X
Form
X
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. To gain mastery over, overcome, and bring under one's control.

    In the Quranic construction استحوذ عليه, the expression can include prevailing over someone so as to direct or drive them toward what one desires; the two attestations express this meaning in imperfect and perfect forms.

    • Lane · entry 16011
    • Mufradāt · row 369
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 4:141word 20

    we have advantage

    Quran 58:19word 1

    Has overcome

Occurrences in the Quran

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

  • 4:141نَسْتَحْوِذْwe have advantage
  • 58:19ٱسْتَحْوَذَHas overcome
View all 2 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 14 Classical meanings
  • حَاذَ

    To drive camels or other animals together, quickly or forcefully, especially toward water; in animal use, to master them while gathering them together.

    The evidence includes rapid, violent, rough, and water-directed herding, as well as gaining mastery over a herd.

    • Lane · entry 16011
  • حَاذَ

    To do an affair firmly, soundly, thoroughly, or well.

    • Lane · entry 16011
  • حَاذَ

    To journey hard or proceed at a vehement pace.

    • Lane · entry 16011
  • حَاذَ

    To guard, protect, keep safely, take care of, or be observant of something.

    The construction حاذ عليه expresses being observant or regardful of something, including such matters as prayer.

    • Lane · entry 16011
  • أَحْوَذَ

    To gather a garment together and draw it toward oneself.

    • Lane · entry 16012
  • أَحْوَذَ

    To make an arrow light by scraping or paring it.

    A technical use describing the preparation of an arrow.

    • Lane · entry 16012
  • الحَاذُ

    The part of a horse's back beneath the saddle-cloth, especially its middle; also the line along or the back of a person's back.

    The plural is أَحْوَاثٌ. The definition includes the anatomical use for horses and people.

    • Lane · entry 16014
  • الحَاذُ

    A state or condition.

    In the expression خفيف الحاذ, it refers idiomatically to having little property, a small family to maintain, or both.

    • Lane · entry 16014
  • الحَاذَانِ

    The corresponding parts of the backs or outer sides of the two thighs of a camel, other beast, or person.

    An anatomical dual expression; the evidence also records a plural أَحَاذٌ.

    • Lane · entry 16014
  • أَحْوَذُ

    A quick or rapid hunt.

    Used in the expression طَرَدٌ أَحْوَذُ.

    • Lane · entry 16017
  • أَحْوَذِيٌّ

    Quick in journeying or pace.

    The evidence illustrates an exceptionally rapid traveler as one who makes a ten-night journey in three.

    • Lane · entry 16018
  • أَحْوَذِيٌّ

    Quick, sharp, active, and skillful in affairs; one who manages, prosecutes, or masters them well.

    The adjective may be applied to a person and, by extension, to the wing of a qata bird in the sense of being active or quick.

    • Lane · entry 16018
  • أَحْوَذِيٌّ

    Of thick water, quick in moving the bowels.

    A figurative and specialized application recorded for thick water.

    • Lane · entry 16018
  • الحَاذُ

    A tree.

    A rare, anomalous lexical use distinguished from the anatomical sense.

    • Maqāyīs · row 1470

Cautions

Points that affect how this root should be read.

  • The rare tree sense of الحاذُ is reported as anomalous and is kept separate from the anatomical sense.

  • Lane's historical Quran citation notation is not used to assign modern verse locations; the displayed examples use only the independently supplied QAC locations.