Quranic root
دثر
d · th · r
The root centers on the accumulation or layering of something upon another, producing covering, compactness, or abundance.
From this orientation develop the senses of covering oneself or another, dust or sand covering and effacing traces, abundant property or growth, and several figurative extensions involving concealment or being overlaid.
- Maqāyīs · row 1705
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 1
- Quran senses
- 1
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
مُتَدَثِّرٌ
mutadaththirun
- 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.
Wrapped in a covering; one who has enveloped himself in a garment or other covering.
The Quranic form is the assimilated active participle of تَدَثَّرَ and occurs in the vocative expression addressing one who is wrapped in his covering.
- Lane · entry 194
- Lane · entry 207
- Mufradāt · row 456
Selected Quran examples
Quran 74:1word 2
“who covers himself”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 74:1ٱلْمُدَّثِّرُwho covers himself
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 22 Classical meanings
دَثَرَ
Of a trace, mark, or dwelling-place: to become covered by windblown sand or dust, and consequently to become effaced, obliterated, or old.
The same branch is used figuratively of a reputation or remembrance becoming effaced or forgotten.
- Lane · entry 191
- Lane · entry 204
دَثَرَ
Of a man: to become overcome by old age and emaciation.
- Lane · entry 191
دَثَرَ
Of a garment: to become dirty.
- Lane · entry 191
دَثَرَ
Of a sword: to become sullied or rusty through remaining long without polishing.
The use is figurative in the lexical descriptions of a sword left unfurbished.
- Lane · entry 191
- Lane · entry 204
دَثَرَ
Of trees: to put forth their leaves and branches.
- Lane · entry 191
دَثَّرَهُ
To cover another person with a garment or other covering, especially one intended to provide warmth.
The object is the person being covered; the construction is causative rather than reflexive.
- Lane · entry 192
دُثِّرَ
To have large masses of stone compactly placed over a slain person.
A specialized passive construction describing stones laid over the dead.
- Lane · entry 192
دَثَّرَ
Of a bird: to put its nest in order or adjust it into a proper state.
- Lane · entry 192
اِدَّثَرَ
To acquire much wealth.
A derived Form IV usage, with the spelling represented in the source as ادثر.
- Lane · entry 193
تَدَثَّرَ
To be abundant in wealth or to have wealth in abundance.
A figurative construction using wealth as something in which one is enveloped.
- Lane · entry 194
تَدَثَّرَ
To mount or leap upon an animal, and then ride it.
The evidence includes mounting a she-camel or a horse, including riding from behind or wheeling on its back; these are constructional illustrations, not an exclusive object restriction.
- Lane · entry 194
تَدَثَّرَ
In a metaphorical description of rain, to fall over and cover a place or its occupants.
Attested in a poetic image of heavy rain covering the mountain-goats of al-Yamāmah.
- Lane · entry 194
دَثْرٌ
Abundance or a great quantity of property, camels, other things, or herbage.
The noun may describe abundant wealth or animals, abundance generally, or abundant vegetation; its number forms may remain unchanged or use دُثُورٌ.
- Lane · entry 198
دِثْرٌ
A good manager of property, camels, or similar assets.
- Lane · entry 199
دَثَرٌ
Dirt or filth.
- Lane · entry 200
دِثَارٌ
An outer garment or covering thrown over the clothing worn next to the body; a garment in which a person envelops himself, especially for warmth.
The plural is دُثُرٌ; the item is conventionally worn above the inner garment.
- Lane · entry 201
دِثَارٌ
Figuratively, the people of ordinary or lower rank, in contrast with persons of distinction or intimacy.
This meaning occurs in the conventional contrast between الشِّعار and الدِّثار.
- Lane · entry 201
أَبُو دِثَارٍ
A thin curtain used to protect against gnats or mosquitoes; also an appellation for a mosquito.
The appellation is explained by the insect's concealment by day or by the need for a covering against its annoyance.
- Lane · entry 201
دَثُورٌ
An obscure or inactive person: one without reputation, sleepy, sluggish, heavy, quiet, or lazy.
An epithet applied to a man; the listed traits are variant applications of the same characterization.
- Lane · entry 202
دَاثِرٌ
In a state of perdition or ruin.
Attested in the expression خَاسِرٌ دَاسِرٌ; the source notes that دَاسِرٌ may be merely a corroborative, imitative sequent in that expression.
- Lane · entry 204
دَاثِرٌ
Negligent or inconsiderate; one who does not care for or esteem finery.
A figurative adjectival use.
- Lane · entry 204
مُتَدَثِّرٌ
A rare term applied to a man and equated in the source with مَأْبُون and مِثْفَر.
The characterization is marked as figurative in the source, but the supplied evidence does not establish a more precise English interpretation.
- Lane · entry 206
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic spelling مُدَّثِّر is the assimilated form of مُتَدَثِّر; the public headword therefore uses the latter citation form.
The rare use recorded under مُتَدَثِّرٌ in lane:entry:206 is preserved, but its precise characterization is not recoverable from the supplied lexical evidence.
Unassigned or ambiguous evidence
lane:entry:206 equates a rare figurative characterization of a man with مَأْبُون and مِثْفَر; the exact semantic force of those terms is unresolved in the supplied packet, so the item is retained with the Arabic equivalents rather than assigned a more specific English gloss.