Quranic root
نصت
n · ṣ · t
The root centers on silence, especially silence maintained for listening.
The basic notion of silence extends to attentive listening. Its derived forms also express causing someone to be silent, requesting silence, and standing or pausing while listening.
- Maqāyīs · row 4647
- Lane · entry 43807
- Lane · entry 43808
- Lane · entry 43810
- 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.
أَنْصَتَ
ʾanṣata
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- 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 be silent in order to listen attentively; to listen quietly.
Used in the Quran in the imperative plural, in the construction of remaining silent and listening to recited or spoken discourse.
- Lane · entry 43807
Selected Quran examples
Quran 7:204word 6
“and pay attention”
Quran 46:29word 12
“Listen quietly”
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 6 Classical meanings
نَصَتَ
To be silent; to listen, particularly by remaining silent while hearing speech.
Form I usage, including the construction of being silent and listening to someone's speech.
- Lane · entry 43807
اِنْتَصَبَ
To stand or pause while listening.
A derived posture-and-listening usage reported in connection with the root's silence-and-listening branch.
- Lane · entry 43807
أَنْصَتَ
To make someone silent; to silence someone, including by making that person refrain from speaking.
Transitive Form IV usage; with عَنْ, the construction can express making someone abstain from speaking about or to the speaker.
- Lane · entry 43808
أَنْصَتَ
To incline toward play or sport.
Occurs in the construction أَنْصَتَ لِلَّهْوِ.
- Lane · entry 43808
اِسْتَنْصَتَ
To ask or desire someone to be silent, or to be silent and listen to the speaker.
Form X request or desire for silence and attentive listening.
- Lane · entry 43810
نُصْتَةٌ
Silence, or silence accompanied by listening.
Nominal usage for the state or act of silent listening.
- Lane · entry 43811
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic occurrences are imperative plural surface forms; the public headword is normalized to the Form IV perfect citation form أَنْصَتَ.
Form IV also has a transitive Classical Arabic meaning, 'to silence someone'; that meaning is listed separately from the Quranic silent-listening usage.