Quranic root
لوت
l · w · t
The reported semantic orientation is concealment or diversion from what is sought: withholding the relevant information and substituting, obscuring, or giving something else.
The evidence presents a branch involving misleading or obscuring an account and a separate branch involving restraining or turning someone aside. The root-level evidence explicitly questions the soundness of the root, so this is a reported orientation rather than a secure single historical principle.
- Maqāyīs · row 4245
- Lane · entry 9959
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 1
- 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.
لَاتَ
lāta
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- 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.
In the expression لاتَ حينَ مَناصٍ: it is not the time for escape; contextually, there is no longer an opportunity for escape.
A fixed Quranic construction. The grammatical analysis is disputed: the expression is variously treated as a negative particle or as related to ليس or لا, while the QAC token is tagged as an active Form I verb. These analyses are recorded as one constructional sense.
- Mufradāt · row 1284
Selected Quran examples
Quran 38:3word 8
“when there (was) no longer”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 38:3وَّلَاتَwhen there (was) no longer
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 3 Classical meanings
لَاتَ
To misrepresent information: to conceal or obscure what was asked about and report, narrate, or state something different from it.
A communicative construction involving concealment, an incorrect substitute account, or obscure or enigmatic expression. The evidence does not impose a general restriction on the type of person or thing involved.
- Lane · entry 9959
لَاتَ
To withhold or restrain someone and turn or divert him from his course, purpose, or object.
A distinct transitive construction concerning restraint or diversion from an intended course or aim; it is not assigned to the Quranic negative construction.
- Lane · entry 9959
اللَّاتُ
A named idol, paired with al-ʿUzzā, regarded by its worshippers as an object through which they sought nearness to God.
A separate definite noun or name, not the Form I verb لَاتَ and not merged with the Quranic negative construction. Its reported etymology is from الإله with phonological and morphological alteration.
- Mufradāt · row 1284
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic token is morphologically identified by QAC as لَاتَ, but the supplied Quran-focused discussion records competing analyses of لاتَ حينَ مَناصٍ as a negative particle or a form related to ليس or لا.
The definite noun اللَّاتُ is a distinct homographic lexical item and should not be conflated with the Quranic Form I token.
The root-level evidence questions whether لوت is a sound independent root; the root idea and non-Quranic branches are therefore reported with appropriate caution.