Quranic root
غيض
gh · y · ḍ
A root orientation of decrease, deficiency, smallness, and withdrawal into obscurity.
The central image is water diminishing and sinking into the earth, in contrast to flowing forth. Related lexical developments include the reduction or disappearance of other things, places where water sinks or collects, and dense thickets associated with hiddenness.
- Maqāyīs · row 3487
- Lane · entry 30251
- Lane · entry 30257
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- 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.
غَاضَ
ghāḍa
- 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.
To diminish, become scant or deficient, or be made to recede and sink away; in the Quran, said of water that subsides or disappears into the earth.
Covers the intransitive use and its passive or transitive counterpart. The Quranic passive construction presents the water as made to diminish or subside.
- Lane · entry 30251
- Mufradāt · row 1080
Selected Quran examples
Quran 11:44word 7
“And subsided”
In reference to the wombs, to diminish or absorb what they contain, so that fetal development or gestation falls short of completion.
The Quranic construction is explained variously as the wombs' falling short in the fetus's body, the period of gestation, or the number borne, or as affecting menstrual blood; it is also described as making the contents like water swallowed by the earth.
- Lane · entry 30251
- Mufradāt · row 1080
Selected Quran examples
Quran 13:8word 8
“fall short”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 2 occurrencesBroader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 12 Classical meanings
غَاضَ
Figuratively, to become few, fail, or perish, as in the description of generous people becoming scarce.
A tropical extension of the meaning of diminution.
- Lane · entry 30251
غَاضَهُ
To cause something to diminish, become deficient, or disappear; to restrain or remove tears; figuratively, to do away with what has appeared of apostasy; and, of a commodity, to reduce its price.
Transitive use of the Form I verb, including physical, emotional, and figurative objects.
- Lane · entry 30251
غَاضَهُ
To open a passage or channel for water to flow to a place where it sinks.
A specialized causative construction concerning the course of water.
- Lane · entry 30251
غَاضَهُ
To cause loss or detriment, or to wrong and injure someone.
A broader figurative transitive use.
- Lane · entry 30251
غَيَّضَ
Said of a lion, to frequent or keep to a غَيْضَة, a dense thicket.
A Form II usage with a thicket as the customary place frequented.
- Lane · entry 30252
غَيْضٌ
An abortive, incompletely formed fetus, traditionally described as one less than seven months old.
A specialized nominal use.
- Lane · entry 30255
غَيْضٌ
A little or small quantity; a small amount taken from much.
Usually used in the figurative expression of giving little from much.
- Lane · entry 30255
غَيْضٌ
An abundance or growth of certain trees, including tamarisk-like and related species.
A botanical use distinct from the nominal sense of small quantity.
- Lane · entry 30255
غِيضٌ
The spadix of a palm, or its edible inner shoot or heart emerging from or still within the leaf-fibres.
A specialized palm-botanical term.
- Lane · entry 30256
غَيْضَةٌ
A thicket or dense, tangled stand of trees, especially one associated with collected water in which trees grow.
Authorities differ over whether the term is restricted to willow-like trees; cited usage also applies it to fruit-bearing and non-fruit-bearing trees. Its plurals include أَغْيَاضٌ, غِيَاضٌ, and غَيْضَاتٌ.
- Lane · entry 30257
غَائِض
In a poetic usage, something that causes loss, detriment, or injury; alternatively, something that causes anger, under a reading that substitutes ض for ظ.
The lexical analysis is disputed: one interpretation derives the word from غَاضَهُ, while another treats it as a substituted form of غَائِظ.
- Lane · entry 30258
مَغِيضٌ
A place where water sinks or enters the earth, or where water collects; مَغَايِضٌ is its plural.
A noun of place associated with the withdrawal or collection of water.
- Lane · entry 30259
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The single QAC Form I group contains both the passive perfect غِيضَ in 11:44 and the active imperfect تَغِيضُ in 13:8; their lexical constructions are distinguished in the senses.
Interpretations of the Quranic womb construction vary concerning the fetal body, gestation, number borne, or menstrual blood.
The Classical Arabic item غَائِض has a disputed analysis, either from غَاضَهُ or as a substituted form of غَائِظ.