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Quranic root

فضض

f · ḍ · ḍ

The root centers on separating, dividing, or breaking something apart.

From breaking a seal or separating parts, the semantic range extends to dispersing groups, scattered fragments, flowing or sprinkled substances, spaciousness, and related derived uses. The association of silver with this root is presented as possible rather than certain.

  • Maqāyīs · row 3601
  • Mufradāt · row 1119
2
Quran-attested forms
2
Quran senses
9
Quran occurrences

Forms in the Quran

The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.

اِنْفَضَّ

āinfaḍḍa

Part of speech
Verb · Form VII
Form
VII
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.

  1. To disperse, break up, or leave as a group.

    In the Quran, it is used of people or an assembly separating from one another; with إِلَى in 62:11, the group disperses toward the trade or diversion. The contextual rendering “rush” reflects this directed departure rather than a separate lexical sense.

    • Lane · entry 34368
    • Mufradāt · row 1119
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 3:159word 12

    surely they (would have) dispersed

    Quran 62:11word 6

    they rushed

    Quran 63:7word 12

    they disband

فِضَّةٌ

fiḍḍahun

Part of speech
Noun
Quran occurrences
6 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.

  1. Silver.

    In 76:16, قَوَارِيرَ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ refers to vessels described as silver-like while remaining transparent, according to the Quran-focused lexical explanation; this is a constructional interpretation of silver, not a separate metal sense.

    • Lane · entry 34374
    • Mufradāt · row 1119
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 3:14word 12

    and [the] silver

    Quran 76:16word 3

    silver

    Quran 76:15word 5

    silver

Occurrences in the Quran

Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.

  • 3:14وَٱلْفِضَّةِand [the] silver
  • 3:159لَٱنفَضُّوا۟surely they (would have) dispersed
  • 9:34وَٱلْفِضَّةَand the silver
  • 43:33فِضَّةٍۢsilver
  • 62:11ٱنفَضُّوٓا۟they rushed
View all 9 occurrences

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 32 Classical meanings
  • فَضَّ

    To break open a seal or break a thing apart, including into several pieces.

    The basic transitive use applies to a seal, a letter, or another object.

    • Lane · entry 34364
  • فَضَّ

    To deflower or destroy virginity.

    A figurative use compares virginity to a seal or to a perforated pearl.

    • Lane · entry 34364
  • فَضَّ

    To break or scatter someone’s teeth.

    Occurs in the expression فَضَّ اللهُ فَاهُ and related supplicatory formulations.

    • Lane · entry 34364
  • فَضَّ

    To separate, disperse, or scatter a thing or a group; to distribute property among people.

    The group use may describe people or a ring of people breaking up after assembling; the property use describes allocation among a group.

    • Lane · entry 34364
  • فَضَّ

    To cut or sever the tie between two parties.

    Used of the bond or connection between people or things.

    • Lane · entry 34364
  • فَضَّ

    To pour out water or tears; of water or tears, to flow or pour forth.

    The transitive and intransitive uses apply especially to water and tears.

    • Lane · entry 34364
  • فَضَّضَ

    To silver an object or ornament it with silver.

    Applied, for example, to a bit or bridle ornamented with silver.

    • Lane · entry 34365
  • أَفْضَضَ

    To make a gift large or generous.

    This is a reported Form IV use distinct from the pointer to the Form I entry.

    • Lane · entry 34366
  • اِنْفَضَّ

    To break or become broken.

    Used of a seal or another thing that breaks.

    • Lane · entry 34368
  • اِنْفَضَّ

    For one’s connections or affiliations to become cut or severed.

    A reported idiomatic use describes becoming detached from what was done to another person; the transmitted form is itself subject to variant reporting.

    • Lane · entry 34368
  • اِفْتَضَّ

    To deflower a woman.

    A Form VIII transitive use with a feminine object is explicitly reported.

    • Lane · entry 34369
  • اِفْتَضَّ

    To pour or draw water forth gradually, or obtain it as it emerges.

    Applied to water issuing successively from a spring or from clouds.

    • Lane · entry 34369
  • اِفْتَضَّ

    To end or discharge a widow’s waiting period.

    The reported idiom refers to leaving the waiting state through customary acts such as using perfume or otherwise ending its restrictions.

    • Lane · entry 34369
  • فَضْفَضَ

    To make a garment or coat of mail wide or ample.

    A proposed figurative extension applies the same idea of abundance to means of subsistence.

    • Lane · entry 34370
  • تَفَضْفَضَ

    To become sprinkled or spattered.

    In the cited expression, the urine of a she-camel becomes sprinkled over her thighs.

    • Lane · entry 34371
  • فَضٌّ

    A small number of people in a dispersed state; separate, non-adhering, or scattered material.

    Applied to a dispersed group, dates that do not stick together, and silk scattered or strewn apart.

    • Lane · entry 34372
  • فِضَّةٌ

    An elevated stony tract or stony area.

    This is a separate geographical noun from the metal name.

    • Lane · entry 34374
  • فِضَاضٌ

    Scattered rocks, especially rocks lying one upon another on a mountain.

    Used in the expression فِضَاضُ الجِبَالِ.

    • Lane · entry 34374
  • فَضَضٌ

    Something separated, dispersed, or sprinkled, including droplets or water spread over a surface.

    Applied to rain, hail, sweat, water used in ablution, and water flowing over the limbs during it.

    • Lane · entry 34375
  • فَضَضٌ

    A scattered portion or part; in a reported idiom, a person regarded as a portion of a curse, alternatively as issuing in dispersed seed.

    The idiom has variant transmitted interpretations, including a portion of the object of a curse and sprinkled seed issuing from the loins.

    • Lane · entry 34375
  • فُضَاضٌ

    Scattered fragments produced when something breaks.

    Used, for example, of bones becoming scattered fragments after a blow.

    • Lane · entry 34377
  • فَضِيضٌ

    What is cast forth from the mouth, especially date stones.

    A specific noun for material spat or expelled from the mouth.

    • Lane · entry 34379
  • فَضِيضٌ

    Fresh, sweet, or flowing water.

    The term may refer to water newly issuing from a spring or clouds.

    • Lane · entry 34379
  • فَضِيضٌ

    A place abounding in water.

    A place-name-like application derived from the presence or abundance of water.

    • Lane · entry 34379
  • فَضِيضٌ

    Abundant outflow, especially abundant milk or abundant speech.

    Used in expressions describing a she-camel with much milk or a man with much talk.

    • Lane · entry 34379
  • فَاضَّةٌ

    A calamity or misfortune.

    The word is explained figuratively as something that breaks down or demolishes what it befalls.

    • Lane · entry 34381
  • فَضْفَضَةٌ

    Wideness or spaciousness, especially of a garment or coat of mail.

    A proposed figurative application extends the idea to ample means of subsistence.

    • Lane · entry 34382
  • فَضْفَاضٌ

    Wide or ample; by extension, abundant or copious.

    Applied to garments, armor, water, rain-bearing clouds, and land overspread with rain; figuratively, it can describe a generous person or large giver, and it can describe a fleshy, tall girl.

    • Lane · entry 34383
  • فَضْفَاضَةُ

    The last-born child of a father.

    This meaning is attributed to one authority but rejected by another, who reports a different form, نَضْنَاضَة, for it.

    • Lane · entry 34384
  • مِفَضَّةٌ

    A tool used to break clods of earth.

    The synonymous instrumental form مِفْضَاضٌ is cross-referenced in the same lexical discussion.

    • Lane · entry 34386
  • مُفَضَّضٌ

    Silvered or ornamented with silver.

    Applied especially to a bridle ornamented with silver.

    • Lane · entry 34387
  • مَفْضُوضٌ

    Broken.

    A passive participial description of something that has been broken.

    • Lane · entry 34389

Cautions

Points that affect how this root should be read.

  • The Form VII headword is normalized from the inflected Quranic morphology to the classical perfect citation form اِنْفَضَّ.

  • The contextual rendering “rushed” for 62:11 is treated as directed dispersal or departure, not as an independently established additional root sense.

Unassigned or ambiguous evidence

  • lane-unit:fDD:34367:g2:main reports تَفَضَّيْتُ/تَفَضَّضْتُ with uncertainty over whether it means acquiring silver or making use of it; the lexical assignment is therefore left ambiguous.