Quranic root
تلل
t · l · l
A polarity of elevation or standing and its opposite, falling or prostration.
The elevated side appears in the hill or mound, while the opposing side appears in throwing something down or causing it to fall. Related developments include the neck, pouring or dropping, and agitated movement.
- Maqāyīs · row 950
- Mufradāt · row 189
- 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.
تَلَّ
talla
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- 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 throw down, prostrate, or make lie down.
In the Quranic construction وَتَلَّهُ لِلْجَبِينِ, the verb denotes causing him to fall or be prostrated. The same transitive action can be used of making a corporeal thing or an animal lie down.
- Lane · entry 16745
- Mufradāt · row 189
Selected Quran examples
Quran 37:103word 3
“and he put him down”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 37:103وَتَلَّهُۥand he put him down
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 24 Classical meanings
تَلَّ
To pour something into another person's hand; to give or deliver it into his hand.
Also used of throwing or putting an object into someone's hand.
- Lane · entry 16745
تَلَّ
To lower a rope into a well by hand.
A use associated with drawing water.
- Lane · entry 16745
تَلَّهُ سَوْءٍ
To charge or upbraid someone with an evil or foul thing.
Occurs in the construction تَلَّهُ سَوْءٍ.
- Lane · entry 16745
تَلَّ
To become prostrated or thrown down; to fall or fall down.
Intransitive use, distinct from the causative-transitive use of throwing someone down.
- Lane · entry 16745
تَلَّ جَبِينُهُ
For the side of the forehead to sweat or exude sweat.
Also used in relation to a watering-trough.
- Lane · entry 16745
أَتَلَّ
To cause a fluid or liquid to fall in drops.
Form IV transitive usage.
- Lane · entry 16746
تَلْتَلَ
To move, agitate, or shake someone, sometimes violently, putting him into motion or commotion.
It may describe violently shaking a drinker in order to test whether he has drunk wine or the like.
- Lane · entry 16747
تَلْتَلَةٌ
Hard journeying, rough or vehement driving, and hardship, difficulty, distress, or adversity.
The noun is used both for severe movement or driving and for the resulting or comparable condition of hardship.
- Lane · entry 16747
- Lane · entry 16755
تَلٌّ
A hill or mound of earth or dust; a heap of sand; a hill rising above what surrounds it.
The lexical discussion distinguishes the natural small hill from a colloquial use for an artificial mound.
- Lane · entry 16748
تَلٌّ
A pillow; in plural usage, also reported for certain cloths or garments.
The plural is variously explained as pillows or types of cloth and clothing.
- Lane · entry 16748
تَلَّةٌ
A single act of pouring.
A feminine noun of unity associated with the act of pouring.
- Lane · entry 16749
تَلَّةٌ
A single act of lying on one's side.
A feminine noun of unity associated with lying on the side.
- Lane · entry 16749
تِلَّةٌ
A mode or manner of lying on the side.
Nominal usage describing the manner or posture of lying.
- Lane · entry 16750
تِلَّةٌ
Sluggishness, laziness, or indolence.
An abstract nominal meaning.
- Lane · entry 16750
تِلَّةٌ
A state or condition.
Used in expressions such as being or spending the night in an evil condition.
- Lane · entry 16750
تِلَّةٌ
A thing or matter.
Attested in the expression تِلَّةِ سَوْءٍ.
- Lane · entry 16750
تِلَّةٌ
Moisture, especially moisture in the mouth.
A nominal usage equated with بِلَّةٌ or بَلَلٌ in the cited expression.
- Lane · entry 16750
تَلِيلٌ
Prostrated or thrown down.
A descriptive form for one who has been cast down.
- Lane · entry 16753
تَلِيلٌ
The neck; also the cheek or side of the face.
A concrete anatomical noun; it is also used in explaining the bodily endpoint of the Quranic prostration construction.
- Lane · entry 16753
- Mufradāt · row 189
تَلْتَلَةٌ
A drinking vessel made from the envelope of a palm spadix.
So called in connection with pouring its contents into the throat; reported as a vessel for drinking nabīdh.
- Lane · entry 16755
مَتَلٌّ
A place of prostration.
A noun of place.
- Lane · entry 16757
مَتَلٌّ
A thing used to throw someone down; especially a spear used for that purpose, and hence an erect spear.
The term is used substantivally and adjectivally of the spear.
- Lane · entry 16758
مَتَلٌّ
Strong or robust.
An adjectival use applied to a person, camel, or other entity.
- Lane · entry 16758
مُتَلِّلٌ
One who prostrates much or often.
The term can describe prostrating by twisting one's leg with another person's leg.
- Lane · entry 16759
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic act of throwing down is secure, but the precise endpoint in وَتَلَّهُ لِلْجَبِينِ is variously explained as the side of the forehead, the face or mouth, or the neck; these are not separate verb senses.