Quranic root
نصي
n · ṣ · y
The supplied evidence centers on the forepart of the head and its hair, especially the forelock. From grasping a person's or creature's forelock, the language also expresses control or mastery, with figurative extensions to leadership and distinction.
The evidence records a development from the physical forelock to idiomatic authority and figurative prominence. Separate lexical branches include hair lengthening and a vegetation or pasture term.
- Lane · entry 32253
- Mufradāt · row 1445
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- Quran senses
- 4
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
نَاصِيَةٌ
nāṣiyahun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 4 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.
The hair growing at the front of the head; the forelock.
Used in the Quran in both singular and plural forms for the forelock or front hair.
- Lane · entry 32253
- Mufradāt · row 1445
Selected Quran examples
Quran 96:15word 6
“by the forelock”
Quran 55:41word 5
“by the forelocks”
Control or mastery expressed through taking or grasping someone or something by the forelock.
An idiomatic or metonymic construction in which holding the forelock signifies having power over the entity; explicitly applied to every creature in the Quranic expression from Hūd 11:56.
- Mufradāt · row 1445
Selected Quran examples
Quran 11:56word 13
“of its forelock”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 11:56بِنَاصِيَتِهَآ ۚof its forelock
- 55:41بِٱلنَّوَٰصِىby the forelocks
- 96:15بِٱلنَّاصِيَةِby the forelock
- 96:16نَاصِيَةٍۢA forelock
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 6 Classical meanings
نَاصِيَةٌ
The forelock of a horse.
A Classical Arabic specialization of the general forelock term; it is kept separate from the Quran-attested uses because the supplied Quran evidence does not specifically establish the horse-related application.
- Lane · entry 32253
نَاصِيَةُ قَوْمٍ
The head or leading person of a people, by figurative extension from the forelock.
A conventional figurative expression for prominence or leadership within a group.
- Mufradāt · row 1445
نَصَوْتُ فُلَانًا
To stretch or extend someone's forelock.
Attested in the cited expression concerning arranging or stretching a deceased person's forelock.
- Mufradāt · row 1445
انْتَصَى الشَّعْرُ
For hair to grow or become long.
A verbal use describing the lengthening of hair, distinct from the noun naming the forelock.
- Mufradāt · row 1445
نَصِيٌّ
A vegetation term: a pasture regarded as among the best grazing grounds, also reported as a species of thistle.
The supplied descriptions do not settle the precise botanical referent; the pasture and thistle descriptions are retained within this vegetation branch.
- Lane · entry 32252
- Mufradāt · row 1445
نَصْيَةُ قَوْمٍ
The choice or best members of a people, by comparison with excellent pasture.
A figurative collective expression based on the evaluative sense of the pasture term.
- Mufradāt · row 1445
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
No Maqāyīs entry was supplied for this root, so the root-level development is based on the direct Lane and Mufradāt evidence available here.
The precise botanical referent of نَصِيٌّ is uncertain in the supplied evidence: it is described both as a species of thistle and as choice pasture.