Quranic root
نثر
n · th · r
The root centers on casting or releasing something in separated, dispersed pieces.
Its lexical range develops from scattering objects to describing scattered results, progressive dispersion, expulsion of matter from the nose, and specialized anatomical and figurative uses. Some extensions, such as the name for armor, are reported as possibly irregular.
- Maqāyīs · row 4545
- Mufradāt · row 1412
- 2
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- Quran senses
- 3
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
اِنْتَثَرَ
āintathara
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form VIII
- Form
- VIII
- 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.
To become scattered or dispersed.
Intransitive Form VIII; the Quranic occurrence describes the stars becoming dispersed.
- Lane · entry 43200
- Mufradāt · row 1412
Selected Quran examples
Quran 82:2word 3
“scatter”
مَنْثُورٌ
manthūrun
- Part of speech
- Passive participle
- 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.
Scattered, strewn, dispersed, or thrown about.
Passive participle describing something presented in a dispersed arrangement or state.
- Lane · entry 43216
Selected Quran examples
Quran 25:23word 9
“dispersed”
Quran 76:19word 9
“scattered”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 3 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 31 Classical meanings
نَثَرَ
To scatter, sprinkle, strew, disperse, or throw something about in separated portions.
A transitive Form I verb, commonly describing the scattering of grain, fruit, dates, nuts, sugar, pearls, or similar objects, often by hand; also used of a palm shedding its unripe dates and of matter being scattered from the body.
- Lane · entry 43194
نَثَّرَ
To scatter abundantly, repeatedly, or over many objects.
An intensive or causative extension of scattering; the evidence associates it with muchness, repetition, or application to numerous things.
- Lane · entry 43194
- Lane · entry 43195
نَثَرَ
To have many children; of a woman, to bring forth numerous children.
A figurative use referring to abundant offspring.
- Lane · entry 43194
نَثَرَ
To talk much.
A figurative or tropical use of the Form I verb.
- Lane · entry 43194
نَثَرَ
To hasten or be quick in reading or recitation.
A specialized use referring to the manner of reading or reciting.
- Lane · entry 43194
نَثَرَ
To sneeze, blow the nose, or expel mucus and other irritating matter through the nose.
Also used in ablution contexts for expelling what is in the nose after water has been taken into it; the sources distinguish this nasal expulsion from merely drawing in water.
- Lane · entry 43194
نَاثَرَ
To contend with another in scattering, strewing, or dispersing something.
A reciprocal Form III construction involving two parties and a scattering action.
- Lane · entry 43196
نَاثَرَ
To hold a disputation or colloquy with another in elegant or beautiful language.
A figurative expression developed from the image of scattering pearls or other valued things.
- Lane · entry 43196
أَنْثَرَ
To make someone’s nose bleed.
A transitive Form IV use, commonly after piercing or striking someone.
- Lane · entry 43197
أَنْثَرَ
To throw someone down upon the end of the nose or the nose.
A specialized transitive construction describing the result of piercing or striking a mounted person.
- Lane · entry 43197
تَنَثَّرَ / تَنَاثَرَ
To become scattered progressively, piece by piece, or in repeated dispersion.
Related derived patterns are described as conveying gradual or part-by-part scattering, and in intensive uses the repeated scattering of many things; the same imagery is applied to hair or leaves falling apart and to people becoming separated, including by successive deaths.
- Lane · entry 43200
نَثْرٌ
Prose; also rhyming prose, contrasted with metrical composition.
The term is explained by comparison with scattered pearls or grain, in contrast to ordered verse.
- Lane · entry 43202
نَثَرٌ
Loquacity and the divulging of secrets.
A figurative nominal use associated with excessive or indiscreet speech.
- Lane · entry 43203
نَثِرٌ
Loquacious; one who talks much, sometimes vainly or frivolously, or divulges secrets.
An adjectival description of a person characterized by such speech.
- Lane · entry 43204
نَثْرَةٌ
A single act of scattering, strewing, dispersing, or throwing something about.
A nominal action noun for one instance of the scattering action.
- Lane · entry 43205
نَثْرَةٌ
A sneeze, especially an animal’s sneeze or expulsion from the nose.
The expression may describe the expulsion of irritating matter through an animal’s nose; a reported expression calls locusts the sneeze of a fish.
- Lane · entry 43205
نَثْرَةٌ
The end or tip of the nose, the space between the nostrils, or the nose and adjacent region.
An anatomical noun, with some descriptions extending it to the lion’s nose.
- Lane · entry 43205
- Mufradāt · row 1412
النَّثْرَةُ
An asterism or lunar mansion identified with the nose of the lion; in astronomical descriptions, a group of stars associated with a hazy patch.
A traditional astronomical use of the anatomical image of the nose.
- Lane · entry 43205
- Mufradāt · row 1412
نَثْرَةٌ
Armor when it is worn.
A specialized nominal use reported as a possible irregular extension of the root.
- Maqāyīs · row 4545
- Mufradāt · row 1412
نُثَارٌ
What becomes scattered from a thing, especially crumbs, fragments, or scattered table remains.
May refer to scattered grain and similar material, or to crumbs lying around a table.
- Lane · entry 43206
نِثَارٌ
The act of scattering, strewing, or dispersing, especially fruit, nuts, sugar, grain, or money.
Also denotes participation in a customary scattering of such items, for example at a festive occasion.
- Lane · entry 43207
نِثَارٌ
What has been scattered, strewn, or thrown about.
A nominal use equivalent to a passive participle and referring to scattered fruit, sugar, or similar objects.
- Lane · entry 43207
نَثُورٌ
A woman or man having numerous offspring.
A descriptive noun for prolific parenthood; the evidence also records a feminine animal application in a separate sense.
- Lane · entry 43208
نَثُورٌ
A ewe or she-goat with a wide teat orifice, as though scattering milk.
A specialized animal-husbandry term.
- Lane · entry 43208
نَاثِرٌ
A palm tree that shakes off or sheds its unripe dates.
An adjectival description of a palm whose unripe dates become scattered.
- Lane · entry 43211
نَاثِرٌ
A sheep or goat that coughs or sneezes and ejects material from its nose.
The expelled material may be described as resembling worms or as something irritating or harmful.
- Lane · entry 43211
مُنَثَّرٌ
Scattered or abundantly strewn, especially of pearls.
An intensive passive-participial description of pearls scattered in quantity.
- Lane · entry 43214
مَنْثُورٌ
Having numerous young children.
A figurative expression likening numerous children to scattered contents.
- Lane · entry 43216
مَنْثُورٌ
A kind of sweet-smelling flower.
A lexicalized botanical noun distinct from the ordinary passive-participial sense.
- Lane · entry 43216
مُنْتَثِرٌ
In a scattered, strewn, or dispersed state.
An active participial description applicable to one thing or to multiple things.
- Lane · entry 43217
اِسْتَنْثَرَ
To draw water into the nose and then expel it through the nose.
A Form X ablution practice involving nasal rinsing and expulsion.
- Mufradāt · row 1412
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Form V and Form VI progressive or repeated-scattering nuances are grouped because the extracted Form VIII passage suppresses the Arabic labels attached to those comparative clauses.