Quranic root
روع
r · w · ʿ
The root centers on fright and on the heart or mind as the place where fright settles.
From fear as an inner state, the lexicon develops uses for causing fear, taking someone by surprise, inspiring awe or admiration, and describing sharp or lively responsiveness. These extensions belong to particular lexical forms and are not all meanings of the Quranic noun.
- Maqāyīs · row 2184
- Mufradāt · row 598
- Lane · entry 24931
- 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.
رَوْعٌ
rawʿun
- 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.
Fright or fear that has seized or affected the heart or mind.
A noun for fear as an experienced inner state; in 11:74, it is the fright that departed from Abraham.
- Mufradāt · row 598
- Lane · entry 24935
Selected Quran examples
Quran 11:74word 5
“the fright”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 11:74ٱلرَّوْعُthe fright
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 15 Classical meanings
رَاعَ
To frighten, terrify, or make afraid; to cause fear to reach someone's heart.
Transitive; also said of an affair, event, or thing that frightens. Impressive beauty, abundance, or multitude may be the cause. Passive and intransitive forms mean to become frightened or afraid.
- Lane · entry 24931
رَاعَ
To take by surprise; to come upon someone suddenly or unexpectedly.
A conventional extension of striking the heart or mind, used of an unforeseen arrival or encounter.
- Lane · entry 24931
رَاعَ
To excite admiration and approval, pleasure, or joy; to possess a beauty or excellence that produces this response.
Both transitive and intransitive uses are attested. The response may arise from beauty, pleasing appearance, courage, or excellence.
- Lane · entry 24931
رَاعَ
To cool the heart or allay its thirst.
A rare poetic use, especially of a draught that relieves the heart's thirst.
- Lane · entry 24931
اِرْتَاعَ
To be stirred to alacrity and cheerfulness, inclining one to do good promptly.
In اِرْتَاعَ لِلْخَيْرِ, to be disposed toward and love doing good.
- Lane · entry 24934
رَوْعٌ
War or battle.
A tropical noun use, as in witnessing or being present at war or battle.
- Lane · entry 24935
رُوعٌ
The heart or mind; the seat of fear, and by extension the understanding or intellect.
Used in constructions meaning that something entered one's mind or was inspired into one's heart; it can also occur in idioms concerning the heart's return or composure.
- Lane · entry 24936
رَوَعٌ
The quality of exciting admiration and approval through beauty, pleasing appearance, or courage.
An abstract noun describing the quality associated with the impressive epithet أَرْوَعُ or رَوْعَاءُ.
- Lane · entry 24937
رَوْعَةٌ
A fit or episode of fright or fear.
It may denote a sudden fright, including fright caused to people by horsemen or to an animal by an alarming encounter.
- Lane · entry 24939
رَوْعَةٌ
A trait, sign, or mark of beauty; beauty that excites admiration, pleasure, or joy.
A visible quality that affects the heart of the beholder.
- Lane · entry 24939
رُوَاعُ الفُؤَادِ
Quick, spirited, vigorous, and sharp in spirit; of a heart, easily startled by what is heard or seen.
رُوَاعُ الفُؤَادِ and رُوَاعَةُ الفُؤَادِ are applied to a she-camel or mare in the quick-spirited sense, not to a male in that use.
- Lane · entry 24940
رَائِعٌ
Frightening or making afraid, especially by impressive beauty, abundance, or multitude.
An active-participle adjective; an impressive appearance may inspire fear or awe.
- Lane · entry 24941
رَائِعٌ
Beautiful, impressive, or pleasing, exciting admiration and approval.
Applied to a person, horse, ornament, speech, or similar object; courage, excellence, and pleasing appearance are among the attested grounds of admiration.
- Lane · entry 24941
أَرْوَعُ
A person of striking beauty or impressive presence who excites admiration; in a reported usage, sharp and lively in spirit or intellect.
The epithet has the feminine رَوْعَاءُ and may describe imposing stature, presence, or lively intelligence.
- Lane · entry 24941
رَائِعٌ
Frightened or afraid.
A possessive or passive adjectival use, also associated with the form رَوِعٌ; the active form may be analyzed as having passive force in this use.
- Lane · entry 24941
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The sole Quran occurrence is the noun in 11:74; the derived forms and broader classical extensions are not additional Quranic forms.