Quranic root
سور
s · w · r
The root is oriented toward elevation, rising, and forceful upward movement.
From this orientation develop meanings of leaping or surging, eminence and structural tiers, ascent over a wall, and the Qur’anic sūrah as a distinct elevated or bounded section. The bracelet and Persian-leader terms are reported as Arabicized borrowings rather than as straightforward native developments of the root.
- Maqāyīs · row 2522
- Mufradāt · row 739
- 4
- Quran-attested forms
- 4
- Quran senses
- 17
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
تَسَوَّرَ
tasawwara
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form V
- Form
- V
- 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 climb or scale a wall, including climbing over it to gain access.
Quran-attested Form V usage describing ascent over a wall; the associated construction may use the wall as the object or refer to climbing upon its wall.
- Lane · entry 42665
Selected Quran examples
Quran 38:21word 6
“they climbed over the wall”
سِوَارٌ
siwārun
- Part of speech
- Noun · plural form in Quran
- Quran occurrences
- 5 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 bracelet or armlet worn as adornment.
The Quranic form is the plural أَسَاوِرُ. In the supplied Quran-focused discussion, أَسْوِرَةٌ is associated with gold in 43:53, while أَسَاوِرُ is used for silver in 76:21; this is a contextual usage distinction, not a different basic object.
- Lane · entry 42672
- Mufradāt · row 739
Selected Quran examples
سُورٌ
sūrun
- 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.
A wall.
In its Quranic occurrence, the word denotes a separating wall or barrier.
- Lane · entry 42668
Selected Quran examples
Quran 57:13word 18
“a wall”
سُورَةٌ
sūrahun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 10 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 distinct chapter or section of the Qur’an.
The Qur’anic term presents each sūrah as a bounded unit of revelation, a distinct degree or section within the whole, sometimes explained by comparison with a city wall or with an elevated degree.
- Lane · entry 42670
- Mufradāt · row 739
Selected Quran examples
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:23بِسُورَةٍۢa chapter
- 9:64سُورَةٌۭa Surah
- 9:86سُورَةٌa Surah
- 9:124سُورَةٌۭa Surah
- 9:127سُورَةٌۭa Surah
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 34 Classical meanings
سَارَ
To leap or spring toward or upon someone; to assault or assail.
The verb may describe a direct attack or an aggressive leap, including the conventional image of an intoxicated drinking companion assaulting another.
- Lane · entry 42662
سَارَ
To rush, rise, or circulate into the head; to have an overpowering effect.
Especially said of wine or the force of a cup mounting into the drinker’s head.
- Lane · entry 42662
سَارَ
To become angry.
A figurative extension of forceful rising or assault.
- Lane · entry 42662
سَارَ
To rise, become elevated, or ascend, including ascending a wall; figuratively, to aspire to eminence.
The wall-ascent usage and the idiom of rising toward eminence belong to the same elevation branch.
- Lane · entry 42662
سَوَّرَ
To wall or enclose a city, town, or similar place.
Form II causative construction meaning to provide a place with a wall.
- Lane · entry 42663
سَوَّرَ
To put a bracelet or bracelets upon someone; to deck someone with bracelets.
A derived construction formed from سِوَارٌ.
- Lane · entry 42663
مُسَاوَرَةٌ
Mutual leaping upon one another, assault, or fighting.
The Form III verbal noun describes reciprocal attack; it can also be used figuratively when anxieties or other forces assail a person.
- Lane · entry 42664
مُسَاوَرَةٌ
An overpowering influence on the head, said of speech or language.
A figurative use equating forceful impact with something taking hold of the head.
- Lane · entry 42664
تَسَوَّرَ
To climb or ascend and take or seize what has been reached.
A Classical construction recorded alongside wall-scaling, in which ascent is followed by acquisition of the place or object.
- Lane · entry 42665
تَسَوَّرَ
To put on a bracelet or bracelets, or deck oneself with them.
A Form V reflexive bracelet-related use, distinct from the Quranic wall-scaling use.
- Lane · entry 42665
تَسَاوُرٌ
Leaping or springing with or upon another.
A reciprocal Form VI action.
- Lane · entry 42666
تَسَاوُرٌ
To raise or stretch oneself up toward someone or something.
An idiomatic elevation construction comparable to stretching oneself upward.
- Lane · entry 42666
سُورٌ
The uppermost part or crown of the head.
A rare traditional usage reported with variant interpretations.
- Lane · entry 42668
سُورٌ
An entertainment or repast to which guests are invited.
A lexical item reported as Persian and adopted into Arabic usage.
- Lane · entry 42668
سُورٌ
A species of fig, identified as ficus sur.
A plant name, distinct from the wall meaning.
- Lane · entry 42668
سَوْرَةٌ
A leap or spring.
The basic nominal action of forceful upward movement.
- Lane · entry 42669
سَوْرَةٌ
A surge, force, or overpowering effect, as of wine, venom, hunger, or joy.
The word may describe something rushing into or taking effect in the head, or an intense movement of emotion or appetite.
- Lane · entry 42669
سَوْرَةٌ
A paroxysm or fit of fever.
A specialized usage for an acute outbreak of fever.
- Lane · entry 42669
سَوْرَةٌ
An outburst, fit, or vehemence of anger.
It can denote either the eruption of anger or, by extension, anger itself.
- Lane · entry 42669
سَوْرَةٌ
Impetuousness or ardor, especially the flush of youth or the impetuousness of battle.
The domain is supplied by the expression: the term is not restricted to one age group or object class in general.
- Lane · entry 42669
سَوْرَةٌ
The coercive force, tyranny, might, or valor of a sultan.
A usage for the force exerted by political authority.
- Lane · entry 42669
سَوْرَةٌ
The vehemence or intensity of cold.
Used of severe cold as an intense onset or force.
- Lane · entry 42669
سُورَةٌ
Eminence, nobility, high rank, station, or excellence; also superior or hardy quality in camels.
A Classical meaning of the headword distinct from its Quranic technical sense of a chapter.
- Lane · entry 42670
سُورَةٌ
A goodly, tall, or elevated structure; a course or row of stones or bricks, or a level of a structure.
The structural uses include a tier or degree of a building or wall.
- Lane · entry 42670
سُورَةٌ
The extremity or limit of a thing.
A general boundary or terminal-point usage.
- Lane · entry 42670
سُورَةٌ
A sign or token, especially a mark of glory, honor, dignity, or nobility.
The generic sign meaning and the more specific sign of status are recorded under the same lexical branch.
- Lane · entry 42670
سَوَّارٌ
One accustomed to spring upon or assault another; an epithet for a dog or a lion because of its leaping attack.
The human use includes an assailant who attacks or insults a drinking companion.
- Lane · entry 42673
سَوَّارٌ
One into whose head wine quickly rises.
A figurative agent noun based on the rapid upward effect of wine.
- Lane · entry 42673
سَوَّارٌ
Speech or language that has an overpowering effect on the head.
A figurative adjectival use for forceful or overwhelming speech.
- Lane · entry 42673
سُوَّارَى
Height or an elevated degree.
Occurs in an idiomatic expression for an affection rising to a high degree.
- Lane · entry 42674
إِسْوَارٌ
A Persian leader or horseman, especially one firm and skilled on horseback and in archery.
An Arabicized Persian title or designation, with reported senses ranging from a great king to a capable mounted fighter.
- Lane · entry 42676
مِسْوَرٌ
A leather pillow or cushion on which one leans or reclines.
The plural is مَسَاوِرُ.
- Lane · entry 42677
مُسَوَّرٌ
Adorned with a bracelet or bracelets; figuratively, made a king or chief.
The political sense is explained as arising from bracelet adornment as a sign of leadership.
- Lane · entry 42679
مُسَوَّرٌ
The place where a bracelet is worn.
A place-noun-like use parallel to other formations naming the place of an adornment.
- Lane · entry 42679
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
Lane's printed Quran reference for the Form V wall-scaling entry uses the historical notation “xxxviii. 20”; the public Quran example follows the independently supplied QAC location 38:21 and does not treat the printed citation as a modern location.
The bracelet vocabulary and إِسْوَارٌ ‘Persian leader or horseman’ are described in the supplied lexical evidence as Arabicized or borrowed terms; their inclusion here does not assert that every such form derives natively from the root’s core semantic principle.