Quranic root
طعن
ṭ · ʿ · n
The root centers on thrusting or piercing something with an object that penetrates it.
From physical piercing and thrusting, the root extends to reciprocal spear-fighting and figurative verbal attack; related Classical usages also develop around entering, traversing, and being struck by plague.
- Maqāyīs · row 3033
- Mufradāt · row 898
- 2
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- 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.
طَعَنَ
ṭaʿana
- 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 assail, blame, censure, or defame with words; to speak against.
In the Quran, this verbal-attack construction occurs with فِي and is directed at religion, as in طَعَنُوا فِي دِينِكُمْ. It is figurative verbal attack rather than physical piercing.
- Lane · entry 11375
- Mufradāt · row 898
Selected Quran examples
Quran 9:12word 7
“and defame”
طَعْن
ṭaʿn
- Part of speech
- Verbal 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.
Verbal assailing, blaming, censuring, or defaming; a spoken attack.
In طَعْنًا فِي الدِّينِ, the verbal noun denotes impugning or attacking religion with words, not piercing with a weapon.
- Lane · entry 11375
- Mufradāt · row 898
Selected Quran examples
Quran 4:46word 17
“and defaming”
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 24 Classical meanings
طَعَنَ
To pierce, stab, thrust at, smite, or wound with a spear or similar object; also to goad or poke with a stick or the like.
The physical action does not necessarily entail that the weapon fully enters the object.
- Lane · entry 11375
طَعْن
Piercing, stabbing, or thrusting with a spear or similar weapon.
A verbal noun of the physical sense of طَعَنَ.
- Lane · entry 11375
طُعِنَ
To be smitten by plague or pestilence.
Reported of a man and also of a camel.
- Lane · entry 11375
طَعَنَ إِلَى أُمِّهِ
Of a child, to raise or thrust the head toward the mother’s breast.
A conventional construction describing movement toward the breast.
- Lane · entry 11375
طَعَنَ فِي الدَّارِ
Of a tree branch, to incline into or against a house while rising or extending sideways.
Used of the direction and extension of a branch.
- Lane · entry 11375
طَعَنَتْ فِي الخِدْرِ
In a reported expression of disapproval, to enter within the curtain; alternatively, according to another explanation, to strike the curtain with the hand.
The expression is transmitted with these two interpretations.
- Lane · entry 11375
طَعَنَ فِي المَفَازَةِ
To go into, penetrate, and traverse the desert.
A figurative extension of entering or penetrating into something.
- Lane · entry 11375
طَعَنَ اللَّيْلَ
To journey throughout the whole night; with a people or party, to travel by night.
Used with the night or with a traveling group.
- Lane · entry 11375
طَعَنَ فِي السِّنِّ
To become old or advanced in age.
A figurative use with age as the domain entered or advanced through.
- Lane · entry 11375
طَعَنَ فِيهِ
To begin or enter upon a thing or affair.
The object may be an affair or thing of any kind; طَعَنَتْ فِي الحَيْضَةِ refers to entering the days of menstruation.
- Lane · entry 11375
طَعَنَ فِي العِنَانِ
Of a horse, to strain the rein by thrusting the head forward and thereby hasten or quicken its pace.
Used of a horse’s forward movement against the rein.
- Lane · entry 11375
طُعِنَ فِي جِنَازَتِهِ
To die, or to be at the point of death.
The related expression طُعِنَ فِي نَيْطِهِ has the same meaning; the wording is figurative.
- Lane · entry 11375
الطِّعَان
Sexual intercourse.
A metonymic use of the noun الطِّعَان.
- Lane · entry 11376
تَطَاعَنَ
To pierce or thrust one another in war; to engage in mutual spear-fighting.
The Form VI reciprocal construction expresses participation by two sides.
- Lane · entry 11377
اِطَّعَنَ
To pierce or thrust one another in war; to engage in mutual spear-fighting.
A Form VIII reciprocal counterpart of تَطَاعَنَ, explicitly associated with the same construction.
- Lane · entry 11377
طَعْنَة
A single piercing thrust or stab, and the wound or effect produced by such a thrust.
Used of a spear-thrust or similar penetrating attack.
- Lane · entry 11380
طَعَّان
One who habitually attacks people’s reputations with blame, censure, reproach, backbiting, or similar speech.
An intensive personal description, especially in the expression طَعَّانٌ فِي أَعْرَاضِ النَّاسِ.
- Lane · entry 11383
طِعِّين
Skilled at piercing or thrusting with a spear in war.
An intensive description of prowess in spear-fighting.
- Lane · entry 11384
طَاعُون
An epidemic disease, especially plague or pestilence.
The term is classically connected with the idea of piercing and is also explained as a form of widespread mortality caused by epidemic disease.
- Lane · entry 11385
مَطْعَن
A place or point of piercing or thrusting.
A noun of place, also used as a verbal noun.
- Lane · entry 11386
مَطْعَن
A point or ground at which someone’s reputation may be attacked, blamed, censured, or spoken against.
Used in the idiom مَا فِيهِ مَطْعَنٌ and related expressions.
- Lane · entry 11386
مِطْعَان
One who frequently pierces or thrusts the enemy.
A vigorous personal description associated with warfare.
- Lane · entry 11388
مَطْعُون
Smitten, pierced, or wounded by a spear or similar weapon.
A passive participial description of one subjected to the physical action of طَعَنَ.
- Lane · entry 11389
مَطْعُون
Smitten by plague or pestilence.
A figurative or transferred passive-participial use associated with طَاعُون.
- Lane · entry 11389
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The internal QAC verb lemma is normalized from طَعَنُ to the Classical Arabic perfect citation form طَعَنَ; the nominal is presented as the verbal noun طَعْن.
The two Quranic occurrences express verbal attack or defamation concerning religion; physical piercing is a separate Classical branch.
The reported طَعَنَتْ فِي الخِدْرِ expression has two transmitted interpretations, both retained here.