Quranic root
كسف
k · s · f
The root conveys an adverse change in a thing's condition and the separation or cutting off of a part from a whole.
Its semantic development includes obscuration or eclipse, with figurative gloom in a person's face or condition, and the separation of a portion into a piece or fragment. These root-level orientations do not by themselves assign every branch to each Quranic form.
- Maqāyīs · row 3986
- Mufradāt · row 1248
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 1
- Quran senses
- 5
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
كِسْف
kisf
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 5 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.
A piece, portion, or fragment of a larger mass, especially a piece or fragment of cloud or sky.
Used in Quranic expressions for a portion or pieces of the sky/heaven and for cloud fragments. The Quran attests both كِسْف and كِسَف; the difference in number or vocalization does not establish a separate lexical sense.
- Mufradāt · row 1248
Selected Quran examples
Quran 17:92word 7
“(in) pieces”
Quran 26:187word 3
“fragments”
Quran 30:48word 13
“fragments”
Quran 52:44word 3
“a portion”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 17:92كِسَفًا(in) pieces
- 26:187كِسَفًۭاfragments
- 30:48كِسَفًۭاfragments
- 34:9كِسَفًۭاfragments
- 52:44كِسْفًۭاa portion
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 4 Classical meanings
كُسُوف
An eclipse or obscuration of the sun or moon.
Describes their being hidden or deprived of their light by a particular intervening phenomenon.
- Mufradāt · row 1248
كَاسِف
Gloomy or frowning in the face, and by extension in one's condition or state.
Used in expressions such as كَاسِفُ الوجه and كَاسِفُ الحال, as a figurative extension from eclipse or obscuration.
- Mufradāt · row 1248
كِسْفَة
A piece or portion of cloth, cotton, or a comparable loosely textured material.
A concrete noun for a separated portion of such material; the same item-name is also applied to a piece of cloud, while the Quranic sky and cloud attestations are recorded under the public form كِسْف.
- Mufradāt · row 1248
كَسَفَ
To cut or sever something into pieces.
Reported for cutting cloth into pieces. An application to cutting the hock of a camel is also reported, but some authorities regard that usage as كَسَحَ instead.
- Mufradāt · row 1248
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The two QAC nominal groupings are presented together under the normalized citation form كِسْف; the supplied evidence supports one Quranic piece/fragment branch rather than separate meanings.
The reported application of كَسَفَ to cutting a camel's hock is lexically disputed and is retained with that qualification.