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Quranic root

غلو

gh · l · w

Going beyond a recognized limit, whether in degree, reach, price, intensity, or physical height.

The lexical branches extend from exceeding the proper or usual limit to religious excess, far-reaching shots, rising or growth, high prices, rapid movement, and luxuriant vegetation.

  • Lane · entry 29796
  • Lane · entry 29801
  • Lane · entry 29807
  • Lane · entry 29809
1
Quran-attested forms
1
Quran senses
2
Quran occurrences

Forms in the Quran

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

غَلَا

ghalā

Part of speech
Verb · Form I
Form
I
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.

  1. To exceed the proper, due, or common limit; to be excessive or immoderate.

    In the Quranic construction غَلَا فِي الدِّينِ, to exceed the proper limit in religion through excessive strictness or rigour. The construction is also explained as probing the intrinsic states, causes, and abstrusities of religious rites.

    • Lane · entry 29796
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 4:171word 4

    commit excess

    Quran 5:77word 5

    exceed

Occurrences in the Quran

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

  • 4:171تَغْلُوا۟commit excess
  • 5:77تَغْلُوا۟exceed
View all 2 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 27 Classical meanings
  • غَلَا

    To shoot an arrow to the farthest distance one can attain; of an arrow or stone, to rise in its course beyond the usual limit.

    Used with the arrow or with reference to its reaching the furthest attainable range.

    • Lane · entry 29796
  • غَلَا

    Of a price or sale rate, to become high or to exceed the usual limit.

    A market or sale-price usage, contrasted with becoming cheap.

    • Lane · entry 29796
  • غَلَا

    For the body to become plump or fat as it rapidly reaches young maturity.

    Attested in the expression غَلَا بِهَا عَظْمٌ and applied to a young woman, young man, or similarly maturing person.

    • Lane · entry 29796
  • غَلَا

    To rise in degree or intensity and increase.

    May describe an abstract quality such as affection becoming progressively stronger.

    • Lane · entry 29796
  • غَالَى

    To exceed the usual or proper bounds in an affair, or to exert one's efforts or power intensely in it.

    Form III construction غَالَى فِي أَمْرِهِ; closely associated with striving or carrying an activity beyond its ordinary degree.

    • Lane · entry 29798
  • غَالَى

    To buy or offer something at an excessive price, or to make a bride's dowry high or exorbitant.

    Used for excessive valuation in purchasing, selling, or setting a dowry.

    • Lane · entry 29798
  • غَالَى

    To vie with another for superiority in stature or beneficence.

    A reciprocal or competitive use describing surpassing another in height or generosity.

    • Lane · entry 29798
  • أَغْلَى

    To make a price or sale rate high or excessive, or to regard it as high-priced.

    Causative Form IV usage concerning the price at which something is sold.

    • Lane · entry 29799
  • أَغْلَى

    To thin or lighten a grapevine's leaves somewhat so that it will grow high and become productive or healthy.

    A specialized agricultural usage concerning the management of a grapevine.

    • Lane · entry 29799
  • تَغَالَى

    To be excessive or exorbitant toward one another in respect of a dowry.

    Reciprocal Form VI construction concerning the amount of a bridal gift.

    • Lane · entry 29801
  • تَغَالَى

    Of a plant or herbage, to grow high or tall and become tangled, luxuriant, abundant, or dense.

    Applied to vigorous plant growth, including luxuriant growth of a grapevine.

    • Lane · entry 29801
  • تَغَالَى

    Of an animal's flesh, to rise and become prominent upon the bones, or to recede and go away.

    The latter state is especially described in connection with scant feeding while preparing an animal for racing or a similar purpose.

    • Lane · entry 29801
  • اِغْتَلَى

    Of a camel or other beast, to become quick or swift and to rise in speed beyond a good or ordinary pace.

    An animal-movement usage, especially of a camel.

    • Lane · entry 29802
  • غُلَوَاءُ

    Excess, exorbitance, or immoderation.

    A noun synonymous with غُلُوٌّ.

    • Lane · entry 29807
  • غُلَوَاءُ

    Quickness, haste, or the first vigorous stage of youth or young manhood.

    Commonly used in the expression غُلَوَاءُ الشَّبَابِ for the impetuosity of youth.

    • Lane · entry 29807
  • غُلَوَاءُ

    The rising or rising high and increasing of a plant or herbage.

    A nominal description of upward and abundant plant growth.

    • Lane · entry 29807
  • غَلَاءٌ

    A high price or sale rate.

    A noun derived from the usage of غَلَا for a price becoming high.

    • Lane · entry 29809
  • غَلَاءٌ

    A man who shoots an arrow far.

    A specialized nominal use describing an archer by the distance of his shot.

    • Lane · entry 29809
  • غَلَاءٌ

    A certain small or short fish, about a span in length.

    A specialized zoological noun; its plural is reported as أَغْلِيَةٌ.

    • Lane · entry 29809
  • غَالٍ

    An extravagant religious zealot, especially an innovator who acts with excessive strictness or rigour.

    An active-participle specialization referring to a person whose religious conduct exceeds the proper limit; plural غُلَاةٌ.

    • Lane · entry 29812
  • غَالٍ

    A shooter who sends an arrow to the furthest distance.

    An active-participle use describing an archer by the range of the shot.

    • Lane · entry 29812
  • غَالٍ

    High or excessive in price.

    An active-participle or adjectival description of a thing sold at an excessive rate.

    • Lane · entry 29812
  • غَالٍ

    Fat flesh-meat.

    A specialized adjectival use applied to meat.

    • Lane · entry 29812
  • أَغْلَى

    Higher or highest in price; more or most excessive in cost.

    A comparative or superlative adjective, distinct from the Form IV verb أَغْلَى.

    • Lane · entry 29814
  • مِغْلًى

    An arrow used while raising the arm in order to shoot beyond the usual limit, or in striving to do so.

    A specialized instrument noun; plural مَغَالٍ is reported.

    • Lane · entry 29815
  • مِغْلَاةُ الوَهَقِ

    A she-camel that runs swiftly with an extended stride, described as surpassing the reach of a lasso or vying with another in pace.

    A specialized idiomatic expression for a fast-moving she-camel; the precise imagery is explained in more than one way.

    • Lane · entry 29816
  • مُغْلَوْلِيَةٌ

    Of land, having abundant, dense, or luxuriant herbage.

    An adjective applied to fertile land covered with vigorous growth.

    • Lane · entry 29817

Cautions

Points that affect how this root should be read.

  • The public Quranic headword is normalized to the Form I perfect غَلَا; the two supplied Quran occurrences are the imperfective form تَغْلُو.

  • Lane's Quran references in the lexical discussion use historical citation conventions; the examples here use only the independently supplied QAC locations.

  • The supplied Mufradat row 1061 is shared between the roots غلو and غلي. It is therefore not used as unique evidence for this root, especially for its discussion of boiling and غليان.

Unassigned or ambiguous evidence

  • Mufradat row 1061 remains shared/composite evidence between glw and gly; its root-specific segmentation cannot be established from the packet alone.