Quranic root
تبب
t · b · b
The root centers on loss, ruin, and perdition, especially sustained or resulting loss; a separately reported branch concerns becoming ready, orderly, or settled.
The lexical evidence develops from suffering loss to causing loss and the state of ruin. A qualified secondary branch uses استتبّ for becoming orderly or ready, while its relation to the loss branch is treated as uncertain.
- Maqāyīs · row 899
- Mufradāt · row 172
- Lane · entry 16437
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 4
- Quran senses
- 4
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
تَبَّ
tabba
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- 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.
To suffer loss, ruin, or perdition; to perish.
A Form I perfect verb expressing the subject’s coming to ruin or enduring loss.
- Lane · entry 16434
- Mufradāt · row 172
Selected Quran examples
Quran 111:1word 5
“and perish he”
To be ruined or perish in the imprecation تَبَّتْ يَدَاهُ, “may his hands perish.”
In the Quranic construction, the hands can represent the person as a whole, including his worldly and ultimate good; this is an idiomatic imprecation rather than a restriction to hands as an object.
- Lane · entry 16434
- Mufradāt · row 172
Selected Quran examples
Quran 111:1word 1
“Perish”
تَبَاب
tabāb
- 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.
Ruin, perdition, or sustained loss.
A noun denoting a continuing state or outcome of loss and destruction, as in being in ruin.
- Lane · entry 16434
- Mufradāt · row 172
Selected Quran examples
Quran 40:37word 23
“ruin”
تَتْبِيب
tatbīb
- 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.
Causing loss or ruin; bringing about perdition.
A Form II verbal noun expressing the infliction or production of loss, including the Quranic construction meaning that an action increased people only in loss.
- Lane · entry 16434
- Lane · entry 16435
- Mufradāt · row 172
Selected Quran examples
Quran 11:101word 24
“ruin”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 4 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 12 Classical meanings
تَبٌّ
Loss or diminution; being lost; perdition or death.
A nominal or infinitival form associated with the loss branch of the root.
- Lane · entry 16434
تَبَّ
To cut or cut off a thing.
A separate Form I usage.
- Lane · entry 16434
تَبَّ
To become old, through the loss of youth.
A figurative usage based on the loss of youth.
- Lane · entry 16434
تَبَّبَ
To cause someone to suffer loss or become lost; to destroy or kill.
A transitive Form II usage.
- Lane · entry 16435
تَبًّا
An imprecation of loss, perdition, or death upon someone.
Used as an imprecatory expression, as in تَبًّا له.
- Lane · entry 16435
أَتَبَّ
To weaken or impair someone’s strength.
A figurative Form IV usage.
- Lane · entry 16436
اِسْتَتَبَّ
To become orderly, rightly arranged, complete, or settled; of a road, to become well-trodden and easy or direct.
A reported Form X branch applied either to a road or to an affair that reaches a proper, regular state.
- Lane · entry 16437
تِبَّة
A difficult or distressing state or condition.
An independent nominal usage.
- Lane · entry 16439
تَبُّوب
A place of perdition or destruction; also, a desert.
A rare nominal usage.
- Lane · entry 16443
تَابّ
An old man.
A dialectal or extended lexical usage; the feminine form is also reported.
- Lane · entry 16444
تَابّ
An ass or camel having galls or sores on its back.
A specialized usage referring to an animal with back sores.
- Lane · entry 16444
مُسْتَتِبّ
Of a road, well-trodden and clearly manifest; figuratively, of an affair, clear and in proper order.
An active-participial adjective related to the reported Form X branch.
- Lane · entry 16445
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Lane material is indexed under the contracted two-letter heading تب and includes distinct derived and dialectal headwords; those lexical identities have been kept separate where materially relevant.
The relation of اِسْتَتَبَّ to the loss branch is qualified in the evidence, so its orderly or settled meanings remain Classical Arabic meanings rather than being merged into the Quranic ruin senses.
A reported تَبُّوب sense meaning “what the ribs infold” is treated as a likely orthographic confusion with تَابُوت and is not assigned to this root.