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Quranic root

نكب

n · k · b

The root denotes inclination, deflection, or turning aside from a line or course.

From the basic idea of deviation or lateral inclination, the lexical range extends to turning away, oblique winds, the shoulder as a lateral junction, ailments causing lameness, and related figurative or occupational uses.

  • Maqāyīs · row 4738
  • Mufradāt · row 1480
2
Quran-attested forms
2
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.

مَنْكِب

mankib

Part of speech
Noun
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.

  1. A side, lateral region, or elevated part of the earth.

    In the Quranic plural construction مَنَاكِبِهَا, the earth is described through the metaphor of shoulders; the expression has also been interpreted as its routes or mountains.

    • Lane · entry 44441
    • Mufradāt · row 1480
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 67:15word 9

    (the) paths thereof

نَاكِب

nākib

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.

  1. Deviating or turning away from the straight path.

    An active participle of نَكَبَ عَنْ; in the Quranic expression عَنِ الصِّرَاطِ لَنَاكِبُونَ, it denotes moral or religious deviation from the straight course.

    • Lane · entry 44430
    • Mufradāt · row 1480
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 23:74word 8

    surely (are) deviating

Occurrences in the Quran

Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.

  • 23:74لَنَـٰكِبُونَsurely (are) deviating
  • 67:15مَنَاكِبِهَا(the) paths thereof
View all 2 occurrences

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 32 Classical meanings
  • نَكَبَ

    To turn aside or away from a person, thing, road, or course; to avoid, separate oneself from, or go off at a distance.

    Used with عن and related directional constructions; the meaning includes physical departure and deviation from a course.

    • Lane · entry 44430
  • نَكَبَ

    Of the wind: to blow obliquely, between the directions of two cardinal winds.

    A meteorological use describing a wind that does not follow a cardinal direction.

    • Lane · entry 44430
  • نَكَبَ

    To throw, cast, or fling; to throw someone down.

    The transitive construction نَكَبَ بِهِ may specify throwing someone onto the ground.

    • Lane · entry 44430
  • نَكَبَ

    Of fortune or circumstance: to overcome, afflict, or smite someone with a disaster or calamity; to be afflicted by such fortune.

    Includes the active and passive expressions describing a person struck by misfortune.

    • Lane · entry 44430
  • نَكَبَ

    To empty or pour out the contents of a vessel or quiver by throwing down or inverting it.

    The vessel usage is especially applied to non-fluid contents such as dust; with a quiver, it may involve scattering the arrows.

    • Lane · entry 44430
  • نَكَبَ

    For stones to hit, wound, or make bleed the foot, hoof, nail, or camel’s foot.

    The injury is conventionally associated with being struck by stones while walking.

    • Lane · entry 44430
  • نَكِبَ

    To suffer a shoulder-joint ailment that causes halting; of a man, to have pain in the shoulder joint.

    The animal usage is specifically applied to camels and their shoulder or shoulder-blade.

    • Lane · entry 44430
    • Lane · entry 44435
  • مَنْكِب

    An intendant, superintendent, or assistant over a people; in an administrative hierarchy, a chief or assistant of the ʿurafāʾ.

    The title is metaphorically related to the shoulder as a supporting part.

    • Lane · entry 44430
    • Lane · entry 44441
    • Mufradāt · row 1480
  • نَكَّبَ

    To remove, put aside, or put out of the way a person or thing.

    The causative Form II construction may be transitive or intransitive in the cited usage.

    • Lane · entry 44431
  • تَنَكَّبَ

    To throw a bow or quiver over the shoulder; to shoulder it.

    A Form V construction for carrying an object on the shoulder.

    • Lane · entry 44432
  • تَنَكَّبَ

    To lean upon a bow or staff.

    A separate Form V construction with على.

    • Lane · entry 44432
  • نَكَب

    An inclination or deflection in a thing, or something resembling such an inclination.

    The term can describe a physical slant or deviation from a line.

    • Lane · entry 44435
  • نَكْبَة

    A stone-inflicted injury to the foot causing pain or bleeding.

    This concrete sense is distinct from the figurative sense of misfortune.

    • Lane · entry 44436
  • نَكْبَة

    A misfortune, evil accident, disaster, affliction, or calamity.

    A figurative extension from being struck or injured.

    • Lane · entry 44436
  • نُكْبَة

    A heap of corn or grain that has not been measured or weighed.

    A technical agricultural or commercial term, synonymous with صُبْرَةٌ in the cited evidence.

    • Lane · entry 44437
  • نَكِيب

    The circuit or circumference of a hoof or a camel’s foot.

    An anatomical term for the outer circuit of the foot or hoof.

    • Lane · entry 44438
  • أَنْكَب

    One who deviates greatly from the right course of action.

    An adjectival description of pronounced moral or behavioral deviation.

    • Lane · entry 44440
  • نَكْبَاء

    An oblique wind blowing between two cardinal directions.

    The term may designate one of the four winds between the cardinal winds, with different traditional names and qualities according to direction.

    • Lane · entry 44440
  • أَنْكَب

    A camel affected by disease in the shoulder joint or shoulder blade, or one that walks as though leaning to one side.

    The description combines the shoulder ailment with its characteristic one-sided gait.

    • Lane · entry 44440
  • فَامَةٌ نَكْبَاء

    An inclining pulley.

    A technical description of a pulley set at an angle.

    • Lane · entry 44440
  • أَنْكَب

    Overpowering or oppressive; unjust or tyrannical.

    A figurative adjectival use.

    • Lane · entry 44440
  • الدَّهْرُ أَنْكَبُ

    In a proverbial expression, fortune is prone to repeated disasters and does not remain in one state.

    A conventional statement portraying fortune as repeatedly deviating from a stable course.

    • Lane · entry 44440
  • أَنْكَب

    A man who has no bow with him.

    A specialized nominal adjective use.

    • Lane · entry 44440
  • مَنْكِب

    The shoulder, especially the junction of the upper arm and shoulder blade.

    The plural مَنَاكِبُ can denote the two shoulders or the shoulder joints collectively.

    • Lane · entry 44441
  • هَزَّ مَنَاكِبَهُمْ

    To shake the shoulders as an expression of rejoicing or happiness.

    An idiomatic figurative construction.

    • Lane · entry 44441
  • مَنَاكِبُ

    In a prayer-related expression, easy or pliant shoulders, interpreted as keeping still or making room for someone entering the row.

    A conventional expression whose interpretation concerns conduct and spacing in prayer.

    • Lane · entry 44441
  • مَنْكِب

    The name of certain stars identified with the shoulder of a constellation, including a star in Pegasus and a bright star in Orion.

    An astronomical naming use derived from the shoulder metaphor.

    • Lane · entry 44441
  • المَنَاكِب

    The secondary feathers of a bird’s wing, immediately after the primary feathers.

    The term is reported as a plural without a securely attested singular; these feathers were also used in feathering arrows.

    • Lane · entry 44441
  • مِنْكَاب

    One who deviates greatly from the right course of action.

    A specialized derived noun for pronounced deviation.

    • Lane · entry 44442
  • مَنْكُوب

    Having the foot wounded, struck, or made to bleed by stones.

    A passive-participial description of stone injury.

    • Lane · entry 44443
  • مَنْكُوب

    Overcome or afflicted by fortune, especially through an evil accident or disaster.

    A figurative passive-participial use.

    • Lane · entry 44443
  • يَنْكُوب

    A road that deviates from the right course or direction.

    A specialized noun describing a crooked or deflected route.

    • Lane · entry 44444

Cautions

Points that affect how this root should be read.

  • The Quranic مَنَاكِبِهَا is securely associated with مَنْكِب, but the reported interpretations vary between the earth’s sides or elevated regions, its roads, and its mountains.

  • The Quranic نَاكِبُونَ is presented under the normalized active-participle citation form نَاكِب rather than the inflected plural surface form.