Quranic root
رمد
r · m · d
The lexical field is organized around three recurrent domains: eye disease, ash and ash-like color with associated ruin, and vigorous movement.
Ashes provide the descriptive basis for ash-colored and finely reduced matter, and for figurative associations with destruction and drought. The evidence also preserves distinct medical and movement branches rather than deriving every usage directly from the noun رَمَاد.
- Maqāyīs · row 2138
- Mufradāt · row 586
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 1
- Quran senses
- 1
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
رَمَاد
ramād
- 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.
Ashes: burnt charcoal or coals reduced to fine particles and extinguished.
In the Quran occurrence, the noun appears in the comparison كَرَمَادٍ, “like ashes,” for material reduced to a barren, insubstantial residue.
- Lane · entry 24455
- Mufradāt · row 586
Selected Quran examples
Quran 14:18word 6
“(are) like ashes”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 14:18كَرَمَادٍ(are) like ashes
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 21 Classical meanings
رَمَدَ
To perish, be destroyed, or become like ashes; also to destroy or reduce a person, thing, or people to such a state.
The verb is used both intransitively for the subject that perishes and transitively for one who causes destruction.
- Lane · entry 24443
- Lane · entry 24445
- Mufradāt · row 586
رَمَدَ / رَامِد
To perish through age and wear, becoming worn out and lacking goodness or durability; worn-out or perishing in this condition.
Applied especially to a garment or other thing that has deteriorated with age.
- Lane · entry 24443
- Lane · entry 24458
رَمِدَ / رَمِد
To suffer from a painful, swollen, inflamed eye or ophthalmia; affected by this eye condition.
The adjective رَمِد is applied to a person or eye so affected.
- Lane · entry 24443
- Lane · entry 24449
أَرْمَدَ
To cause an eye to become painful, swollen, inflamed, or affected with ophthalmia.
A causative Form IV use, with the eye as the affected object.
- Lane · entry 24445
رَمَّدَ / مُرَمَّد
To put ashes into or upon roast meat, or to put a thing or flesh into live coals; roasted in live coals.
The active Form II verb describes the cooking action, while مُرَمَّد describes the meat subjected to it.
- Lane · entry 24444
- Lane · entry 24464
رَمَّدَ
Figuratively, to spoil or corrupt a good deed after bringing it into a good state.
Used in the proverbial expression for marring a kindness, including by reproaching the recipient or cutting the act short.
- Lane · entry 24444
رَمَّدَتْ / مُرْمِد
Of a female livestock animal, to show imminent parturition and secrete a small amount of milk in the udder.
Reported of ewes, goats, she-camels, and cows; the signs may include an enlarged udder, belly, or vulva.
- Lane · entry 24444
- Lane · entry 24462
أَرْمَدَ
To become poor or needy; of a people, to suffer drought, barrenness, or dearth, with resulting loss of cattle.
The poverty use applies to a man, while the drought use applies to a community and its livestock.
- Lane · entry 24445
اِرْمَدَّ
Of a man's face, to become ash-colored or to change in appearance through anger.
A Form IX intransitive description of altered facial color or appearance.
- Lane · entry 24446
اِرْمَدَّ
To run or move rapidly, vehemently, heedlessly, or headlong.
Reported particularly of a camel and, in some accounts, of an ostrich; the descriptions vary between speed and a random or headlong course.
- Lane · entry 24446
اِرْمِئْدَاد / مُرْمَئِدّ
Vigorous or energetic going, movement, or action.
The verbal noun denotes energetic activity, and the derived adjective describes one going or acting with energy.
- Lane · entry 24447
- Lane · entry 24466
رَمِد
Of water, turbid or altered for the worse in taste and color while still drinkable.
The condition is associated with water becoming stagnant or otherwise changed.
- Lane · entry 24449
رَمِد
Of a garment or piece of cloth, faded.
An adjectival use for cloth whose color has deteriorated.
- Lane · entry 24449
رُمْدَة
Ash-color: a color like ashes, dusty and tending toward blackness or dinginess.
A color noun describing an ash-like or dusty hue.
- Lane · entry 24450
رِمْدِد / رِمْدِيد
Ashes that are very fine, abundant, or reduced to the utmost degree of fineness; ashes coming to nothing.
The descriptions emphasize the finely particulate or thoroughly burnt state of the ashes.
- Lane · entry 24452
مَاءُ الرَّمَاد
Lye made by infusing wood ashes in water.
A later technical term for ash-water.
- Lane · entry 24455
كَثِيرُ رَمَادِ القِدْر
A person characterized by abundant hospitality and many guests.
An idiom literally referring to the abundance of cooking-pot ashes produced by frequent cooking.
- Lane · entry 24455
رَمَاد
In an idiom, to have the face become altered in appearance.
The expression about ashes being blown into someone's face is used figuratively for a changed or disfigured-looking face.
- Lane · entry 24455
رَمَادَة
Perdition or destruction; specifically, a year of severe drought and widespread loss.
عَامُ الرَّمَادَةِ denotes a historically named year of prolonged dearth in which people and livestock perished, or in which the land became ash-like.
- Lane · entry 24456
رَمَادِيّ
A variety of grapes having a dusty black color.
A regional grape designation associated with al-Ta'if.
- Lane · entry 24457
أَرْمَد / أَرْمَدَاء / رُمْد
Ash-colored, dusty, or dingy in hue.
Applied to ostriches, certain gnats, and garments as well as to other things having a dusky ash-like color.
- Lane · entry 24459
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The sole Quran occurrence is the noun رَمَادٍ in a comparison, “like ashes”; it does not by itself establish the separate verbal, medical, color, or movement branches documented in Classical Arabic.