Quranic root
كنس
k · n · s
The root has two established semantic orientations: clearing material from a surface by sweeping, and withdrawing into concealment or a covert.
The sweeping branch yields the broom, sweepings, and related agent nouns. The concealment branch yields the covert-dwelling animal and, by comparison, the stars or planets that disappear into their settings.
- Maqāyīs · row 4046
- Lane · entry 28586
- Lane · entry 28593
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- 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.
كَانِسٌ
kānisun
- 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 enters a covert or hiding-place, withdrawing from view.
The Quranic plural كُنَّس in 81:16 is interpreted as wild antelopes or wild cattle entering their coverts; another reported interpretation identifies the referents as angels. These are alternative referential interpretations of the concealment construction.
- Lane · entry 28593
Of stars or planets: disappearing into their setting or becoming hidden beneath sunlight after traversing their courses.
In the Quranic expression الجَوَارِي الكُنَّس, the celestial interpretation compares the bodies' disappearance to animals entering their coverts. Classical explanations include stars that run their course and set, the five visible planets, or stars hidden by the sun.
- Lane · entry 28593
- Lane · entry 28586
Selected Quran examples
Quran 81:16word 2
“(and) disappear”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 81:16ٱلْكُنَّسِ(and) disappear
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 12 Classical meanings
كَنَسَ
To sweep a house, chamber, or place with a broom, removing material from its surface.
Form I verb; the object may be a house, chamber, or other place.
- Lane · entry 28586
كَنَسَ
To sweep people away or destroy them.
A figurative extension of sweeping away; attested with the synonym كَسَحَ.
- Lane · entry 28586
كَنَسَ
To withdraw into a tent or a covered camel-litter and hide oneself.
A figurative or extended use of entering a covert; the source attests both entering a tent and entering a camel-litter.
- Lane · entry 28586
كِنَاسٌ
A covert, hiding-place, abode, or cave into which a gazelle or wild bovine retreats, especially for protection from heat.
A concrete noun for the animal's refuge; plural forms include أَكْنِسَةٌ, كُنُسٌ, and كُنَّسٌ.
- Lane · entry 28589
كُنَاسَةٌ
Sweepings or the dust removed by sweeping; also the place where such sweepings are thrown.
The word covers both the collected material and, in a related use, its disposal place.
- Lane · entry 28590
كَنِيسَةٌ
A place of worship associated with Christians or Jews; sometimes, a place of worship of unbelievers generally.
The designation may refer to a church, synagogue, or—according to differing classical usage—to either category.
- Lane · entry 28591
كَنِيسَةٌ
A branch-built, covered camel-litter or riding enclosure in which the occupant sits shaded and concealed.
A distinct nominal sense derived from the notion of concealment.
- Lane · entry 28591
كَنَّاسٌ
A person who sweeps privies.
An occupational noun.
- Lane · entry 28592
مَكْنِسٌ
A place of suspicion.
Attested in the figurative expression مَكَانِسُ الرَّيْبِ; the figurative reading is marked as assumed in the source.
- Lane · entry 28594
مِكْنَسَةٌ
A broom or other implement used for sweeping.
The ordinary instrument noun; plural مَكَانِسُ.
- Lane · entry 28595
مُكَنِّسٌ
A maker of brooms.
An agent noun referring to the craft or occupation.
- Lane · entry 28596
كَنِيسٌ
A kind of roast flesh-meat.
A rare lexical item recorded as a separate supplemental entry.
- Lane · entry 32963
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic form كُنَّس is a plural adjective, presented here under the singular active-participle citation form كَانِسٌ.
The supplied Lane discussion records multiple interpretations of 81:16, including celestial bodies, wild animals, and angels; the listed senses distinguish the concealment construction from its celestial application.