Quranic root
نكث
n · k · th
The root centers on undoing, unraveling, or breaking something that had been joined, bound, or established.
Its physical image is the undoing of fibers, yarn, or rope; this develops into the figurative breaking of covenants and the reversal of an intended course. Other derivatives preserve passive, nominal, technical, and figurative branches.
- Maqāyīs · row 4740
- Mufradāt · row 1481
- 2
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- Quran senses
- 7
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
نَكَثَ
nakatha
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 6 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 break or violate a covenant, compact, oath, or pledged word.
Used of repudiating a previously made commitment; the commitment may be expressed as a covenant or oath or understood from context.
- Lane · entry 44456
- Mufradāt · row 1481
Selected Quran examples
Quran 9:12word 2
“they break”
Quran 48:10word 12
“breaks (his oath)”
Quran 43:50word 7
“broke (their word)”
نِكْثٌ
nikthun
- Part of speech
- Noun · plural أَنْكَاث
- 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.
Untwisted strands or fibers: material undone from yarn, garments, or similar fabric and prepared to be spun again.
The Quran attests the plural أَنْكَاثًا in a simile involving yarn or fabric that has been unraveled.
- Lane · entry 44460
- Mufradāt · row 1481
Selected Quran examples
Quran 16:92word 9
“(into) untwisted strands”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 7:135يَنكُثُونَbroke (the word)
- 9:12نَّكَثُوٓا۟they break
- 9:13نَّكَثُوٓا۟who broke
- 16:92أَنكَـٰثًۭا(into) untwisted strands
- 43:50يَنكُثُونَbroke (their word)
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 19 Classical meanings
نَكَثَ
To undo the threads of a garment or untwist a rope; more generally, to make fibers or material loose, disintegrated, or separate.
A physical Form I usage, extended from unraveling a woven or fibrous object to its becoming uncompacted or disunited.
- Lane · entry 44456
نَكَثَ
To turn away from a matter or withdraw from an undertaking.
Used with عَنْ in the cited construction.
- Lane · entry 44456
تَنَاكَثَ
To mutually dissolve or break covenants or compacts.
A reciprocal Form VI construction concerning commitments held by two or more parties.
- Lane · entry 44458
انْتَكَثَ
To become undone or untwisted, with fibers becoming uncompacted, disunited, or separated.
The intransitive Form VIII counterpart of physical unraveling, applied to garments, ropes, and fibrous objects.
- Lane · entry 44459
انْتَكَثَ
To become emaciated or lean after having been fat; the participle مُنْتَكِثٌ denotes one so emaciated.
The supplied attestations describe loss of condition after former fatness.
- Lane · entry 44459
- Lane · entry 44467
انْتَكَثَ
Of a covenant, compact, or act of inauguration: to become dissolved, violated, or broken.
An intransitive Form VIII construction in which the commitment is treated as broken.
- Lane · entry 44459
انْتَكَثَ
To turn from one desired or sought thing to another.
Used in the construction انتكث من حاجة إلى أخرى or لِأُخْرَى.
- Lane · entry 44459
نِكْثٌ
An undone or untwisted rope, especially at its end.
A concrete nominal use distinct from the Quranic plural referring to material prepared for re-spinning.
- Lane · entry 44460
نُكَاثٌ
Pustules appearing in the mouths of camels.
A technical animal-health term.
- Lane · entry 44461
نُكَاثٌ
A disease affecting the two prominent bones beside a camel’s ears.
The affected structures are called النَّكَفَتَانِ; the disease is also called نُكَافٌ.
- Lane · entry 44461
نُكَاثَةٌ
Broken particles left at the end of a tooth-stick, or material undone or untwisted from the end of a rope.
A noun for small remnants or loosened material at an object’s end.
- Lane · entry 44463
نَكِيثَةٌ
What has been undone or untwisted from a rope.
A substantive derived from the intransitive use of انْتَكَثَ for a rope.
- Lane · entry 44464
نَكِيثَةٌ
A breach of promise.
A figurative nominal use synonymous with failure to keep a commitment.
- Lane · entry 44464
نَكِيثَةٌ
A difficult, arduous, or great affair.
A figurative designation for a serious undertaking or situation, including one in which a group breaks its covenants.
- Lane · entry 44464
نَكِيثَةٌ
The utmost effort, exertion, power, or strength.
Used of reaching the limit of one’s effort or strength.
- Lane · entry 44464
نَكِيثَةٌ
Nature, natural disposition, temperament, or an inherent property.
A figurative nominal use.
- Lane · entry 44464
النَّكِيثَةُ
The mind or soul.
An attributed figurative use, explained in relation to the weakening of one’s powers.
- Lane · entry 44464
نَكَّاثٌ
One who undoes thread and twists it again.
An intensive agent noun for repeated or characteristic unraveling and re-spinning.
- Lane · entry 44465
نَكَّاثٌ
One who habitually violates or breaks covenants or compacts.
A figurative intensive agent noun applied to a persistent covenant-breaker.
- Lane · entry 44465
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic nominal occurrence is attested only as the plural أَنْكَاثًا; نِكْثٌ is used as the normalized lexical citation form.