Quranic root
سمو
s · m · w
The root centers on elevation, height, and being raised above or made prominent.
From physical height and upward movement it extends to visibility, eminence, superiority, upper coverings and the sky; the noun اِسْمٌ is explained as a designation that raises its referent into notice.
- Maqāyīs · row 2493
- Mufradāt · row 721
- 6
- Quran-attested forms
- 8
- Quran senses
- 381
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
سَمَّى
sammā
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form II
- Form
- II
- Quran occurrences
- 8 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 name, call, or designate someone or something by a name or description.
The Quran uses the verb for assigning names and for polemical designations whose claimed referents or attributes may be denied; the object may be a person, group, or supposed deity.
- Lane · entry 42255
- Mufradāt · row 721
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:36word 16
“[I] (have) named her”
Quran 13:33word 13
“Name them”
Quran 53:23word 5
“you have named them”
مُسَمًّى
musamman
- Part of speech
- Passive participle
- Quran occurrences
- 21 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.
Named, designated, or fixed by designation; specified or appointed.
It commonly qualifies a term, time, period, or other matter whose identity or limit has been assigned or determined.
- Lane · entry 42279
Selected Quran examples
سَمَاءٌ
samāʾun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 310 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.
The sky or heaven; the elevated expanse above the earth, including the heavens as a collective or plural.
The Quran uses the noun in both singular and plural/collective expression, including the seven heavens; grammatical gender and number vary by construction.
- Lane · entry 42265
- Mufradāt · row 721
Selected Quran examples
سَمِيٌّ
samiyyun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- 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.
A namesake: one who bears the same name.
In the Quranic discussion of Yahya, the term denies a prior namesake in the relevant naming relationship, rather than merely denying that anyone anywhere could share a label.
- Lane · entry 42267
- Mufradāt · row 721
Selected Quran examples
Quran 19:7word 12
“(this) name”
An equal, peer, or counterpart genuinely sharing a name or attribute.
In the question concerning God, the term means a counterpart deserving the same name or description in truth, not simply someone who happens to be called by a similar word.
- Lane · entry 42267
- Mufradāt · row 721
Selected Quran examples
Quran 19:65word 12
“any similarity”
تَسْمِيَةٌ
tasmiyahun
- Part of speech
- Verbal 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.
Naming or designating; the act of assigning a name or description.
In the Quranic construction, it refers specifically to their assigning a feminine designation to the angels, treating that designation as a claim about their status.
- Lane · entry 42255
- Mufradāt · row 721
Selected Quran examples
Quran 53:27word 8
“name(s)”
اِسْمٌ
āismun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 39 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.
A name or designation by which a thing, person, quality, or concept is known and distinguished.
The Quran applies it to names in the ordinary sense, to linguistic designations together with what they identify, and in بسم الله and related phrases to invoking or acting under the name of the named deity. Polemical passages may describe names as empty designations when their claimed referents or qualities are absent.
- Lane · entry 42275
- Mufradāt · row 721
Selected Quran examples
Quran 1:1word 1
“In (the) name”
Quran 2:31word 3
“the names”
A divine name understood as an attribute or title expressing a real perfection or quality.
In references to the divine names, the name is not treated as a bare label: its meaning is connected with the quality it truthfully expresses, such as knowledge, mercy, or generosity.
- Mufradāt · row 721
Selected Quran examples
Quran 7:180word 2
“(are) the names”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 1:1بِسْمِIn (the) name
- 2:19ٱلسَّمَآءِthe sky
- 2:22وَٱلسَّمَآءَand the sky
- 2:22ٱلسَّمَآءِthe sky
- 2:29ٱلسَّمَآءِthe heaven
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 42 Classical meanings
سَمَا
To rise, become high, or be elevated.
The basic intransitive verb of height and upward movement; it may be used of a person or a thing.
- Lane · entry 42254
سَمَا
To rise into view so as to become clearly distinguishable from a distance.
Used of a visible form or figure that becomes perceptible to an observer.
- Lane · entry 42254
سَمَا
To rise and hasten toward someone or something.
A directional construction with لِ or a comparable complement.
- Lane · entry 42254
سَمَا
For the eye or gaze to rise; figuratively, to have a lofty or proud look.
The literal use concerns sight or the eye; the proud or haughty sense is figurative.
- Lane · entry 42254
سَمَا
To be high or eminent in rank, aspire to eminence, or exceed a number.
The branch extends from physical height to social distinction, ambition, and being above a stated quantity.
- Lane · entry 42254
سَمَا
For a longing or yearning to arise.
A figurative use of rising applied to an inward desire or emotion.
- Lane · entry 42254
سَمَا
To go out in pursuit of game or watch for wild animals to emerge.
A hunting usage describing the hunter's seeking or watching for quarry.
- Lane · entry 42254
سَمَا
For a stallion to spring upon or overpower his she-camels.
A specialized pastoral use, associated with she-camels beyond the stated period after giving birth.
- Lane · entry 42254
سَمَّى
To pronounce or invoke the name of God over an act, object, food, or animal.
A conventional religious construction, especially before eating or before an animal is slaughtered.
- Lane · entry 42255
سَامَى
To vie, compete, or contend with another for superiority, eminence, glory, or excellence.
The Form III construction is reciprocal or comparative and may be used of a contest in rank or distinction.
- Lane · entry 42256
أَسْمَى
To raise, elevate, exalt, or cause someone or something to go up or away.
The causative Form IV may describe raising an object or making someone go up from a town or country.
- Lane · entry 42257
أَسْمَى
To incite someone to hunt or chase.
A specialized causative hunting use.
- Lane · entry 42257
أَسْمَى
To look at or toward the visible form or aspect of something.
The object is its سَمَاوَة, the form or appearance seen from a distance.
- Lane · entry 42257
أَسْمَى
To take the direction of or come to a named place.
Used of going toward a particular locality, including the desert region called al-Samāwah.
- Lane · entry 42257
تَسَمَّى
To name oneself, become named, or be called by a name.
The construction may be reflexive or quasi-passive: something becomes the person's name or designation.
- Lane · entry 42258
تَسَمَّى
To claim relationship to a people by adopting or asserting a name of affiliation.
Used with a group or people to assert attachment or descent by name.
- Lane · entry 42258
تَسَامَى
To mount upon horses.
A specialized plural or reciprocal usage.
- Lane · entry 42259
تَسَامَى
To vie or compete with one another for superiority or eminence.
Reciprocal Form VI usage; the competition may concern glory or excellence.
- Lane · entry 42259
تَسَامَى
To call one another by their names.
A reciprocal naming construction.
- Lane · entry 42259
اِسْتَمَى
To wear or ask to borrow the protective socks used by a hunter on hot ground.
The item is the مِسْمَاة, worn for hunting gazelles during intense heat.
- Lane · entry 42260
اِسْتَمَى
To hunt or pursue wild animals, especially gazelles in their hiding places.
A specialized hunting use associated with seeking game at an unusual time or season.
- Lane · entry 42260
اِسْتَمَى
To make someone the object of a visit, or to perceive goodness in someone from outward signs.
Two related reported uses of the Form VIII verb: visiting a person and discerning good by an informed judgment of appearances.
- Lane · entry 42260
اِسْتَمَى
To choose, prefer, or select something.
A reported Form VIII usage.
- Lane · entry 42260
اِسْتَمَى
According to one reported usage, to test a young she-camel for pregnancy.
This interpretation is attributed to one authority and explicitly rejected by another, who reads the word as تُسْتَمْنَى; it is retained as a disputed Classical report.
- Lane · entry 42260
اِسْتَسْمَى
To ask or demand someone's name.
The object may be the person whose name is requested.
- Lane · entry 42261
سَمَاءٌ
The higher, upper, or highest part of a thing.
A general spatial use, distinct from the conventional noun for the sky.
- Lane · entry 42265
سَمَاءٌ
An overhead canopy, covering, ceiling, or roof.
It may describe the covering over a person or the roof of a house, chamber, tent, or other structure.
- Lane · entry 42265
سَمَاءٌ
The upper or overhead strip of cloth in a tent, including the piece beneath the top strip.
A specialized tent-making term.
- Lane · entry 42265
سَمَاءٌ
A cloud or clouds.
The designation is explained by the height of clouds.
- Lane · entry 42265
سَمَاءٌ
Rain.
A transferred use based on rain coming from the sky or clouds; it may be grammatically masculine or feminine according to the analysis.
- Lane · entry 42265
- Maqāyīs · row 2493
- Mufradāt · row 721
سَمَاءٌ
Bounty or a gift from someone's store of generosity.
An explicitly figurative extension from rain as a source of provision.
- Lane · entry 42265
سَمَاءٌ
Herbage or pasture produced by rain.
A figurative or transferred use derived from rain as the cause of vegetation.
- Lane · entry 42265
- Maqāyīs · row 2493
سَمَاءٌ
The back of a horse.
Used in opposition to the lower or ground-facing part, by reference to height.
- Lane · entry 42265
سَمَاءٌ
The upper surface of a sandal on which the foot rests.
A technical use contrasted with the lower surface.
- Lane · entry 42265
سَمَاوَةٌ
The form, figure, or aspect of something seen from a distance, especially a high or elevated outline.
It may describe the visible shape of the new moon or another elevated object.
- Lane · entry 42271
سَمَائِيٌّ
Of or relating to the sky or heaven; heavenly or celestial.
A relational adjective derived from سَمَاءٌ.
- Lane · entry 42273
سَامٍ
High or lofty; figuratively, proud, haughty, or disdainful.
It can describe people, animals, or a raised gaze and may be used figuratively for pride.
- Lane · entry 42274
سُمَاةٌ
Hunters going out to pursue game.
The noun is a substantivized epithet; some reports restrict it to daytime hunters or to hunters wearing the protective مِسْمَاة socks.
- Lane · entry 42274
اِسْمٌ
Fame, renown, report, or reputation.
A figurative extension of a name into the public standing associated with a person, especially in a favorable sense.
- Lane · entry 42275
اِسْمِيٌّ
Relating to a name, noun, or substantive; nominal.
The adjective is also used in grammatical terminology, as in a nominal sentence or phrase.
- Lane · entry 42276
- Lane · entry 42277
مِسْمَاةٌ
A sock or stocking worn by a hunter to protect against burning ground.
A specialized hunting article used in hot conditions.
- Lane · entry 42278
مُسَمًّى
The best or most distinguished member of a people or party.
A figurative Classical expression, distinct from the Quranic passive-participle sense of being named or designated.
- Lane · entry 42279
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
سَمَاءٌ has both singular and collective/plural Quranic usage; contextual renderings such as “rain from the sky” do not by themselves establish a separate Quranic rain sense.
The Quranic use of سَمِيٌّ concerns a genuine namesake, equal, or counterpart in the relevant name or attribute, not merely anyone sharing a verbal label.
The reported Form VIII pregnancy-testing sense is disputed in the cited Classical evidence.
Unassigned or ambiguous evidence
The unattributed suggestion in lane-unit:smw:42258:g1:main that تَسَمَّى means “became high” is materially lexical but lacks supporting authority in the supplied passage, so it remains unresolved rather than being presented as a Classical meaning.