Quranic root
صعد
ṣ · ʿ · d
A root centered on rising or moving upward, with a closely associated sense of difficulty or arduous effort.
The lexical field develops from physical ascent and elevated places to difficult roads and burdensome experiences, movement through the land, the earth's surface, upward-reaching speech, and related figurative and specialized usages.
- Maqāyīs · row 2790
- Mufradāt · row 832
- 6
- Quran-attested forms
- 7
- Quran senses
- 9
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
صَعِدَ
ṣaʿida
- 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 ascend or go upward; in the expression of good words ascending to God, to reach Him.
The Quranic occurrence uses the verb in a figurative construction in which good words ascend to God.
- Lane · entry 25940
- Mufradāt · row 832
Selected Quran examples
Quran 35:10word 9
“ascends”
أَصْعَدَ
ʾaṣʿada
- 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 proceed away or onward through the land, with an upward movement also possible; in the Quranic context, to withdraw or move on during a retreat.
The Quranic construction is interpreted either as moving away through the land or as ascending toward higher ground; the evidence does not require restricting it to one of these readings.
- Lane · entry 25942
- Mufradāt · row 832
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:153word 2
“you were running uphill”
تَصَعَّدَ
taṣaʿʿada
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form V
- Form
- V
- 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 climb or ascend, especially with the effort and constriction associated with a difficult ascent.
The Quranic occurrence presents the action as an arduous upward climb, used to describe extreme constriction.
- Lane · entry 25943
- Mufradāt · row 832
Selected Quran examples
Quran 6:125word 18
“he (were) climbing”
صَعَدٌ
ṣaʿadun
- 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.
Arduous, severe, grievous, or distressing, especially of a punishment.
In the Quranic phrase عَذَابًا صَعَدًا, the verbal-noun adjective characterizes a punishment as difficult and grievous to undergo.
- Lane · entry 25948
- Mufradāt · row 832
Selected Quran examples
Quran 72:17word 10
“severe”
صَعِيدٌ
ṣaʿīdun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 4 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.
The surface or face of the earth; ground or soil considered as the exposed terrestrial surface.
This is the general ground or earth sense, including the barren surface made into a place of habitation or use.
- Lane · entry 25956
- Mufradāt · row 832
Selected Quran examples
Quran 18:8word 5
“soil”
Quran 18:40word 14
“ground”
Earth or dust suitable for dry ablution.
In the tayammum construction, the term denotes the earth or surface material upon which the hands are struck; authorities differ over whether dust-bearing soil is required or any surface of the earth suffices.
- Lane · entry 25956
- Mufradāt · row 832
Selected Quran examples
Quran 4:43word 39
“(with) earth”
Quran 5:6word 41
“(with) earth”
صَعُودٌ
ṣaʿūdun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- 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 difficult ascent; figuratively, an arduous ordeal, affliction, or punishment.
The Quranic occurrence uses the noun for something imposed as a relentlessly difficult ascent or ordeal.
- Lane · entry 25955
- Mufradāt · row 832
Selected Quran examples
Quran 74:17word 2
“(with) a laborious punishment”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 3:153تُصْعِدُونَyou were running uphill
- 4:43صَعِيدًۭا(with) earth
- 5:6صَعِيدًۭا(with) earth
- 6:125يَصَّعَّدُhe (were) climbing
- 18:8صَعِيدًۭاsoil
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 34 Classical meanings
صَعَّدَ
To make or cause someone or something to ascend or mount; to raise it.
A transitive causative use, contrasted with the intransitive ascent of Form I.
- Lane · entry 25941
صَعَّدَ
To look someone over from head to foot.
A figurative construction describing a searching vertical inspection.
- Lane · entry 25941
صَعَّدَ
To sublimate a substance.
A technical usage found in medical writing.
- Lane · entry 25941
صَعَّدَ
To liquefy, melt, or dissolve.
A specialized verbal-noun usage distinct from physical ascent.
- Lane · entry 25941
أَصْعَدَ
To travel onward or set out, especially toward a higher region, and in some usage simply to proceed through the land.
The directional component may be literal upward movement or may be weakened to departure and travel.
- Lane · entry 25942
أَصْعَدَ
To descend or go down into a valley or land from the relevant side.
This is an exceptional or construction-dependent directional use; the same construction can also describe ascending a mountain.
- Lane · entry 25942
أَصْعَدَ
To advance toward another or go far away.
A motion-away extension of the travel sense.
- Lane · entry 25942
أَصْعَدَ
To exert oneself vehemently in running.
A specialized use of the verb with a running activity.
- Lane · entry 25942
أَصْعَدَ
Of a ship, to spread its sail and be carried along by the wind.
The directional idea is associated with movement along an elevated route, such as up a river or similar course.
- Lane · entry 25942
صَعُودٌ
A she-camel whose young dies or is born prematurely and which returns to an earlier young one, or another young one, to nurse it.
The term describes a specialized condition of the she-camel and its nursing behavior; her milk is said to become especially sweet.
- Lane · entry 25942
- Lane · entry 25955
تَصَعَّدَ
To become difficult or distressing to someone; of breath, to pass with difficulty.
The construction may describe an affair that burdens a person or breathing that is labored.
- Lane · entry 25943
اِسْتَصْعَدَ
To pluck or gather the fruit of the arak tree for eating.
A specialized lexical use unrelated to the ordinary physical-ascent meaning.
- Lane · entry 25946
صُعُدٌ
Upward movement or direction; from above.
Used adverbially or nominally for an arrow or plant moving upward and for something falling from a higher place.
- Lane · entry 25949
صُعُدٌ
A tree from which pitch is melted.
This is a specialized noun homonymous with the upward-direction term.
- Lane · entry 25949
صَعْدَةٌ
A high or elevated piece of land or ground.
The term contrasts with a low or depressed tract; it is also reported as a proper name for the earth.
- Lane · entry 25950
صَعْدَةٌ
A she-ass, especially one characterized by a long back.
The term may function as a substantive or as an epithet; بنات صعدة denotes wild asses.
- Lane · entry 25950
صَعْدَةٌ
A spear or spear-shaft, including a small broad-headed dart.
The word denotes a straight shaft or a related weapon; its plurals include صِعَادٌ and صَعَدَاتٌ.
- Lane · entry 25950
صَعْدَةٌ
A straight-built girl or young woman.
A figurative extension from the straightness of a spear-shaft.
- Lane · entry 25950
صُعَدَاءُ
A sigh or prolonged, labored, or loud breath expressing pain, grief, or sorrow.
The expression may describe prolonged or difficult breathing; the upward direction of the breath is one reported interpretation.
- Lane · entry 25953
صُعَدَاءُ
A raised or unbowed head expressing pride.
This meaning occurs in the figurative expression of following or maintaining one's صُعَدَاءُ.
- Lane · entry 25953
صَعِيدٌ
A wide or ample open place.
A broader place-name use distinct from the earth-surface sense.
- Lane · entry 25956
صَعِيدٌ
A road or passageway, whether wide or narrow.
The plural صُعُدٌ or صُعْدَاتٌ may denote roads or places of passage.
- Lane · entry 25956
صَعِيدٌ
A grave.
A distinct nominal use recorded in Classical Arabic.
- Lane · entry 25956
صَعِيدَةٌ
A she-camel nearing the stage of cutting her bāzil teeth.
Occurs in an idiomatic description of the camel's age and dentition.
- Lane · entry 25957
صُعَادِيَّةٌ
Tall or long, applied to a she-camel.
An adjectival description of the animal's height or length.
- Lane · entry 25959
صَعَّادٌ
One who climbs mountains often or habitually.
An agent noun emphasizing repeated mountain climbing.
- Lane · entry 25960
صَاعِدٌ
Tall or high; figuratively, exalted in rank or nobility.
The literal use applies to such things as a tall neck, while the figurative use applies to high status.
- Lane · entry 25961
صَاعِدٌ
And upward; progressively more than a stated amount.
An elliptical expression used after a quantity or extent to indicate increase beyond it.
- Lane · entry 25961
مَصْعَدٌ
A place or means of ascent; figuratively, a station or rank whose attainment is difficult.
The plural مَصَاعِدُ is used for places of ascent and for figurative stations.
- Lane · entry 25963
مُصَعَّدٌ
A high mountain.
A nominal adjectival use associated with elevation.
- Lane · entry 25964
مُصَعَّدٌ
Prominent or high pubic hair.
A specialized anatomical usage.
- Lane · entry 25964
مُصَعَّدٌ
A beverage, wine, or vinegar prepared by prolonged treatment with fire until its flavor and color change.
A technical preparation term distinct from the elevation sense.
- Lane · entry 25964
مِصْعَادٌ
A rope or scaling ladder used for climbing, especially a looped rope for ascending palm trees.
The term denotes climbing equipment.
- Lane · entry 25966
مِصْعَادٌ
A chain used to restrict the steps of captives or worn on women's feet as an ornament.
The latter senses are reported as specialized usages, including one attributed to Freytag.
- Lane · entry 25966
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Form IV Quranic construction is interpreted in the evidence both as moving away through the land and as ascending toward higher ground.
For صَعِيدٌ, the evidence preserves a lexical disagreement over whether tayammum requires dust-bearing soil or any surface of the earth.