Quranic root
بدأ
b · d · ʾ
The root centers on opening or initiating something, putting it first, and bringing it into existence.
From the basic idea of opening or beginning, the lexical development extends to giving precedence, originating or creating anew, first occurrence, first place, and related nouns for beginnings and principles.
- Maqāyīs · row 711
- Mufradāt · row 100
- 2
- Quran-attested forms
- 4
- Quran senses
- 15
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
بَدَأَ
badaʾa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 12 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.
To begin with something; put it first or give it precedence; in a hostile context, to initiate the action against someone.
Used with بِـ for beginning with or giving precedence to something; it may also describe being the party that initiates an action.
- Lane · entry 35752
- Mufradāt · row 100
Selected Quran examples
Quran 12:76word 1
“So he began”
Quran 9:13word 10
“began (to attack) you”
To begin or commence an action, affair, or sequence.
Describes the start of an activity or ordered course, without necessarily implying creation of the thing begun.
- Lane · entry 35752
Selected Quran examples
Quran 21:104word 8
“We began”
To originate, create, or bring into existence for the first time.
Used especially of bringing creation or a created order into existence, and of an origin that has no preceding instance.
- Lane · entry 35752
- Mufradāt · row 100
Selected Quran examples
أَبْدَأَ
ʾabdaʾa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- Quran occurrences
- 3 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.
To originate or produce something in the first instance; bring it forth as new.
A transitive causative form used for origination or production, including divine origination; it emphasizes bringing something into being rather than merely starting an activity.
- Lane · entry 35752
- Lane · entry 35753
Selected Quran examples
Quran 34:49word 5
“(can) originate”
Quran 85:13word 3
“originates”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 7:29بَدَأَكُمْHe originated you
- 9:13بَدَءُوكُمْbegan (to attack) you
- 10:4يَبْدَؤُا۟originates
- 10:34يَبْدَؤُا۟originates
- 10:34يَبْدَؤُا۟originates
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 25 Classical meanings
بَدْءٌ
The act or state of beginning; a commencement. In expressions of return, the beginning may be the point to which one returns or from which one recommences.
A verbal noun and noun of beginning, including idioms for doing something again from its starting point.
- Lane · entry 35756
بَدْءٌ
The first or former thing, preceding all others; also a first thought, opinion, or impression formed before fuller consideration.
Used in expressions meaning at first, as a first matter, or at the first appearance of an opinion.
- Lane · entry 35756
بَدْءٌ
A chief or lord occupying the first place in chieftainship; by extension, an intelligent or capable young man whose judgment is consulted.
A social-status and leadership use, with plural بُدُوءٌ reported.
- Lane · entry 35756
بَدْءٌ
A share or portion of a slaughtered camel, especially a best portion; also a joint or a bone with its meat.
A technical term for portions distributed from a slaughtered camel, including portions associated with the game of maysir.
- Lane · entry 35756
بَدَأَ
To dig a well for the first time.
A specialized transitive use referring to the initial digging of a well.
- Lane · entry 35752
بَدَأَ
To go forth from one land to another, or from one's own land.
Used with مِنْ to mark the land from which one departs.
- Lane · entry 35752
بُدِئَ
To be afflicted with smallpox, measles, or a similar eruptive illness; more generally, to fall sick.
A passive-form expression for being attacked by illness, including inquiry about when a person became ill.
- Lane · entry 35752
أَبْدَأَ
To do or produce a new, previously unknown, strange, or wonderful thing.
A Classical Form IV extension emphasizing novelty or unfamiliarity rather than the Quranic creation sense alone.
- Lane · entry 35753
أَبْدَأَ
To void excrement or break wind.
An idiomatic bodily use of the Form IV verb.
- Lane · entry 35753
أَبْدَأَ
To put forth one's second teeth.
Said of a child or a colt during the replacement of its first teeth.
- Lane · entry 35753
تَبَدَّأَ
To begin or make a beginning.
A derived Form V expression for entering upon a beginning; it is not a separate Quran-attested form group in this packet.
- Lane · entry 35754
اِبْتَدَأَ
To make someone a promise in anticipation, without that person first asking for it.
Used in the construction اِبْتَدَأَهُ بِوَعْدٍ.
- Lane · entry 35755
بَدْأَةٌ
The beginning or outward course of a military expedition, as opposed to its return course.
A specialized military term contrasted with رَجْعَةٌ, the homeward course.
- Lane · entry 35759
بَدْأَةٌ
The first period of one's condition or life, especially one's youth or adolescence.
Used in expressions referring to the beginning of a person's state or development.
- Lane · entry 35759
بَدْأَةٌ
A certain black plant resembling a truffle and regarded as useless.
A botanical lexical item distinct from the noun for a beginning.
- Lane · entry 35759
بَدَاءٌ
Excrement from the anus.
A substantive associated with the bodily use of أَبْدَأَ; it is kept distinct from that verb's headword.
- Lane · entry 35763
بَدِيءٌ
Originated or newly brought into existence; unprecedented, strange, or wonderful.
Applied to a thing not previously existing or not made after the likeness of an earlier thing.
- Lane · entry 35764
بَدِيءٌ
A newly dug well.
A technical description of a well dug recently or in previously unoccupied ground, contrasted with an ancient or pre-existing well.
- Lane · entry 35764
بَدِيئَةٌ
The first occurrence of something, especially an occurrence that happens unexpectedly or takes one unawares.
May also denote the first of anything; plural بَدَايَا is reported.
- Lane · entry 35768
بَدِيئَةٌ
The faculty of extemporizing or producing speech and accounts through prompt intelligence.
Used of a person's quickness and ability to utter or relate things spontaneously.
- Lane · entry 35768
مَبْدَأٌ
A place or time at which something begins; a starting point.
Originally a noun of place or time derived from the verb of beginning.
- Lane · entry 35772
مَبْدَأٌ
A principle or first rule of a science or other system.
Often used in the plural مَبَادِئُ for foundational principles.
- Lane · entry 35772
مَبْدَأٌ
The primary or initial import of a word, opposed to its ultimate or extended end.
A technical metalinguistic use contrasted with غَايَةٌ.
- Lane · entry 35772
المُبْدِئُ
The Creator or Originator who produced existing things at the beginning, not after the likeness of anything pre-existing.
A divine epithet and participial title, distinct in headword from the Quran-attested finite Form IV verb.
- Lane · entry 35774
مُبْدِئٌ مُعِيدٌ
A man experienced through repeated war or raiding expeditions; also a horse repeatedly trained and exercised and therefore obedient to its rider.
Used in the compound مُبْدِئٌ مُعِيدٌ for repeated experience and practiced ability.
- Lane · entry 35774
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
Lane's discussion of بَادِئَ/بَادِيَ الرَّأْيِ involves variant Quran readings and is retained as broader lexical evidence, not assigned to a QAC Quran form because no corresponding form group is supplied here.
Lane's printed citation for the expression involving يُبْدِئُ uses its historical citation notation; the modern Form IV examples use only the independently supplied QAC locations 34:49 and 85:13.