Quranic root
دحض
d · ḥ · ḍ
A semantic core of slipping, moving away from stability, or failing to remain firm.
The physical loss of footing extends to the sun's decline, arguments becoming invalid or being rebutted, and persons being overcome or brought to loss.
- Maqāyīs · row 1717
- Mufradāt · row 459
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 3
- Quran senses
- 4
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
أَدْحَضَ
ʾadḥaḍa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- 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.
To rebut, invalidate, or render null.
In the Quranic construction لِيُدْحِضُوا بِهِ الْحَقَّ, the verb denotes using something to rebut or invalidate the truth; this is the figurative argumentative use of the causative Form IV.
- Lane · entry 295
- Mufradāt · row 459
Selected Quran examples
Quran 18:56word 11
“to refute”
Quran 40:5word 15
“to refute”
دَاحِضٌ
dāḥiḍun
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- 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.
Invalid, null, or rebutted.
Used of an argument, plea, allegation, or evidence; in the Quranic occurrence, it predicates that the opponents' argument lacks validity or has been refuted.
- Lane · entry 299
- Mufradāt · row 459
Selected Quran examples
Quran 42:16word 11
“(is) invalid”
مُدْحَضٌ
mudḥaḍun
- Part of speech
- Passive participle
- 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.
Made to slip; overcome or defeated.
Passive result of Form IV, describing those brought into loss or defeat; the Quranic occurrence uses the plural form مُدْحَضِينَ.
- Lane · entry 295
- Mufradāt · row 459
Selected Quran examples
Quran 37:141word 4
“the losers”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 18:56لِيُدْحِضُوا۟to refute
- 37:141ٱلْمُدْحَضِينَthe losers
- 40:5لِيُدْحِضُوا۟to refute
- 42:16دَاحِضَةٌ(is) invalid
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 7 Classical meanings
دَحَضَ
To slip or lose one's footing.
The basic intransitive physical use, said of a foot and also of a person.
- Lane · entry 294
دَحَضَ
Of the sun, to decline from the meridian toward the place of setting.
A figurative extension of physical slipping or movement away from a stable position.
- Lane · entry 294
أَدْحَضَ
To cause a foot or person to slip; of rain, to make a place slippery.
The physical causative use of Form IV, distinct from its Quranic figurative use of rebutting or invalidating.
- Lane · entry 295
دَحْضٌ
A slippery place; also water that causes slipping.
A concrete noun for a place or substance associated with loss of footing.
- Lane · entry 296
دَاحِضٌ
Lacking firmness, stability, determination, or resolve in affairs.
A figurative idiomatic use associated with the expression دُحْضُ الأَقْدَامِ.
- Lane · entry 299
مَدْحَضَةٌ
A cause or place of slipping; a place where feet do not remain firm.
A place or circumstance liable to cause loss of footing; synonymous with مَزَلَّةٌ in the cited usage.
- Lane · entry 301
مِدْحَاضٌ
A place in which one slips often or repeatedly.
An intensive designation for a frequently slippery place.
- Lane · entry 302
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic Form IV occurrences attest the figurative meaning of rebutting or invalidating; the physical slipping use is broader Classical Arabic evidence.
The supplied lexical evidence directly describes the Form IV causative action. The gloss “the losers” for مُدْحَضِينَ is contextual support for its passive result, not an independent lexical source.