Quranic root
دهن
d · h · n
The root centers on softness, ease, and smallness or scantness, with oil as a principal concrete expression.
From oil and its effects of softening and moistening, the lexicon extends to slight wetting, paucity, gentle treatment, accommodation, and—figuratively—dissimulation or yielding.
- Maqāyīs · row 1852
- Mufradāt · row 492
- 4
- Quran-attested forms
- 4
- Quran senses
- 5
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
أَدْهَنَ
ʾadhana
- 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 accommodate, conciliate, or yield toward another, especially by softening one's stance or religious commitment.
In 68:9 the construction is interpreted as reciprocal conciliation or compromise; related interpretations emphasize pliancy and abandonment of firmness, with one reported interpretation intensifying this to unbelief.
- Lane · entry 1477
- Mufradāt · row 492
Selected Quran examples
Quran 68:9word 3
“you should compromise”
Quran 68:9word 4
“so they would compromise”
دِهَانٌ
dihānun
- 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 red hide, or—by another interpretation—the dregs or varied substance of oil; in the Quranic simile, something resembling one of these.
In 55:37 the expression admits the lexical alternatives of a vividly red hide and oil or oil dregs; the occurrence is a comparison rather than a literal identification.
- Lane · entry 1490
- Mufradāt · row 492
Selected Quran examples
Quran 55:37word 6
“like murky oil”
دُهْنٌ
duhnun
- 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.
Oil or grease used for anointing, greasing, or moistening.
The Quranic occurrence denotes oil in the context of the produce of the olive tree; the noun can also denote a portion or kind of oil.
- Lane · entry 1483
- Mufradāt · row 492
Selected Quran examples
Quran 23:20word 7
“oil”
مُدْهِنٌ
mudhinun
- 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.
One who treats an authoritative message lightly, disregards it, or rejects it.
In 56:81 the participle is interpreted as holding the revelation in little or mean estimation and thereby rejecting or disbelieving it; the sense also reflects abandoning seriousness.
- Lane · entry 1496
- Mufradāt · row 492
Selected Quran examples
Quran 56:81word 4
“(are) indifferent”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 23:20بِٱلدُّهْنِoil
- 55:37كَٱلدِّهَانِlike murky oil
- 56:81مُّدْهِنُونَ(are) indifferent
- 68:9تُدْهِنُyou should compromise
- 68:9فَيُدْهِنُونَso they would compromise
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 38 Classical meanings
دَهَنَ
To anoint, grease, or moisten something with oil.
Used of applying oil or grease to the head, hair, moustache, or another object.
- Lane · entry 1475
دَهَنَ
Of rain, to moisten the ground slightly or wet its surface.
- Lane · entry 1475
دَهَنَ
To strike someone gently with a staff or stick.
The expression is figurative and denotes light blows or gentle strokes.
- Lane · entry 1475
دَهَنَ
To act hypocritically toward someone.
- Lane · entry 1475
دَهِنَ
Of a she-camel, to have little milk.
- Lane · entry 1475
دَهِنَ
To be weak, foolish, or soft and flaccid.
The lexical descriptions include both weakness or foolishness and physical softness or flaccidity.
- Lane · entry 1475
مُدَاهَنَةٌ
Conciliation, accommodation, making peace, or becoming reconciled with another.
This is the Form III verbal noun and is distinct from the Form IV Quranic form displayed above.
- Lane · entry 1477
مُدَاهَنَةٌ
Dissimulation or dishonest conduct in which one conceals a contrary intention.
The usage may involve showing another person something different from what is held inwardly.
- Lane · entry 1477
مُدَاهَنَةٌ
Treating someone with gentleness, blandishment, coaxing, wheedling, beguiling, or deluding.
The construction can include refraining from restraint or prohibition in order to placate or influence someone.
- Lane · entry 1477
مُدَاهَنَةٌ
Holding something in light, little, or mean estimation, or treating it with contempt.
This is a later conventional figurative extension of the term.
- Lane · entry 1477
إِدْهَانٌ
To spare, show mercy or pity, pardon, or leave something intact.
The construction لَا تُدْهِنْ عَلَيْهِ is explained as not sparing or pardoning him.
- Lane · entry 1478
إِدْهَانٌ
To fall short in an affair or case.
- Lane · entry 1478
أُدْهِنَ
Of a camel, to be affected by the vertigo called دُهْنٌ.
- Lane · entry 1478
اِدَّهَنَ
To anoint oneself with oil or grease.
This is the Form VIII reflexive use.
- Lane · entry 1480
تَيَدْهَنَ
To take an oil vessel or oil container.
This is a rare quadriliteral form recorded with that specific construction.
- Lane · entry 1481
عَيْشٌ دَهْنٌ
Bad and scanty means of subsistence.
A fixed descriptive collocation.
- Lane · entry 1482
دُهْنٌ
Weak rain, or rain that only moistens the surface of the ground.
- Lane · entry 1483
دُهْنٌ
A vertigo affecting a camel.
- Lane · entry 1483
دِهْنٌ
A noxious tree used to kill or capture beasts of prey.
It is compared with the oleander and is recorded as a noun of unity.
- Lane · entry 1484
دِهْنٌ
A large tree.
- Lane · entry 1484
دَهِنٌ
Oily or greasy.
It may describe a person or an object, including hair that is oily or greasy.
- Lane · entry 1485
دُهْنَةٌ
Odour or scent.
Used in the expression for being sweet in respect of odour.
- Lane · entry 1487
دَهْنَاءُ
A sandy desert or place consisting entirely of sand; also the name of certain desert tracts.
The proper-place-name use includes a desert tract associated with Temeem in Najd.
- Lane · entry 1488
دَهْنَاءُ
A red herb with broad leaves used for tanning.
- Lane · entry 1488
دُهْنِيَّةٌ
An oily quality.
- Lane · entry 1489
دِهَانٌ
A slippery place or a smooth road, especially one that is long and smooth.
- Lane · entry 1490
دَهِينٌ
Anointed or greased with oil.
Used adjectivally of something such as a beard that has been oiled.
- Lane · entry 1491
دَهِينٌ
A hide of intense red colour.
This is the adjectival use and is distinct from the noun دِهَانٌ in the Quranic simile.
- Lane · entry 1491
دَهِينٌ
Of a she-camel, yielding very little or no milk.
The lexical explanations connect the term either with an active-participle sense or with being as though anointed by scant milk.
- Lane · entry 1491
دَهِينٌ
Of a stallion, unable to impregnate.
A figurative extension associated with paucity of seminal fluid.
- Lane · entry 1491
دَهِينٌ
Weak, applied to a person or a thing.
- Lane · entry 1491
دَهَّانٌ
A seller or maker of oil; in later usage, a painter of houses and similar surfaces.
- Lane · entry 1492
مُدْهَنٌ
A camel affected by the vertigo called دُهْنٌ.
- Lane · entry 1494
مُدْهُنٌ
A vessel, flask, or phial for holding oil or ointment.
The plural is مَدَاهِنُ.
- Lane · entry 1495
مُدْهُنٌ
A hollow or cavity in a mountain where water collects or stagnates; also a place excavated by a torrent or water exuding in stone.
This is a figurative extension from a vessel for oil.
- Lane · entry 1495
مَدْهَنَةٌ
A place where oil is made, or an oil mill.
- Lane · entry 1497
قَوْمٌ مُدَهَّنُونَ
A people or company of men showing visible signs of ease, plenty, welfare, or well-being.
- Lane · entry 1499
أَرْضٌ مَدْهُوَنَةٌ
Land moistened slightly by rain, especially at its surface.
- Lane · entry 1500
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
دِهَانٌ in 55:37 has an explicitly reported interpretive range between a red hide and oil or oil dregs; the Quran example preserves the supplied contextual gloss without resolving that lexical alternative.
The Quranic plural active participle at 56:81 is presented under its singular dictionary citation form مُدْهِنٌ.