Quranic root
ثري
th · r · y
The supplied lexical record centers on moisture: earth becomes moist, is moistened, and retains moisture; ثَرًى names moisture or moist earth and can also denote the earth or soil.
The physical notion of moist ground develops into inchoative, causative, and participial forms, as well as figurative extensions involving freshness, accessible benefit, and unbroken connection.
- Lane · entry 27229
- Lane · entry 27230
- Lane · entry 27231
- Lane · entry 27232
- 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.
ثَرًى
tharan
- 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.
Earth or soil, especially the ground beneath which something lies.
In the Quranic expression مَا تَحْتَ الثَّرَى, it denotes what is beneath the earth or soil.
- Lane · entry 27232
Selected Quran examples
Quran 20:6word 12
“the soil”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 20:6ٱلثَّرَىٰthe soil
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
ثَرِيَ
To become moist and soft after drought or dryness.
Used of earth or land, including land watered by rain that penetrates to its moisture.
- Lane · entry 27229
ثَرَّى
To moisten, sprinkle, or pour water over and mix into something.
Used of a place, earth, ground, dust, food preparations, and similar substances, including sawiq and aqit.
- Lane · entry 27230
ثَرَّى
To make the hands cling to the ground between the two prostrations of prayer.
A conventional description of keeping the hands pressed to the ground until the second prostration.
- Lane · entry 27230
أَثْرَى
To moisten the earth; to become abundant or compact with moisture.
The verb may describe rain moistening the earth or land becoming richly moist.
- Lane · entry 27231
ثَرًى
Moisture or humidity of the earth; moist earth, and also the earth or soil.
The expression مَثْرِيٌّ is used as an intensive epithet for very moist earth.
- Lane · entry 27232
ثَرًى
The earth's moisture, especially in the conventional expression describing its meeting with rainwater.
In اِلْتَقَى الثَّرَيَانِ, the two moistures meet when rain has sunk into the ground and reached the earth's own moisture.
- Lane · entry 27232
ثَرًى
The pubic hair and the soft hair of a fur garment.
This is an idiomatic use based on the comparison with moist earth and fur.
- Lane · entry 27232
ثَرًى
Moisture-producing rain at the beginning of the rainy season.
In شَهْرٌ ثَرَى, it refers to a month in which rain begins, sinks into the ground, and moistens and softens the earth.
- Lane · entry 27232
ثَرًى
Moisture identified as a horse's sweat as it appears.
In بَدَا ثَرَى المَاءِ مِنَ الفَرَسِ, the expression refers to the appearance of the horse's sweat.
- Lane · entry 27232
ثَرًى
The visible effect of anger in a person's face.
A figurative use in إِنِّي لَأَرَى ثَرَى الغَضَبِ فِي وَجْهِ فُلَانٍ.
- Lane · entry 27232
ثَرًى
Good or benefit that is readily obtainable.
In قَرِيبُ الثَّرَى, it describes someone from whom good seems easy to attain, by comparison with moisture near the surface of the earth.
- Lane · entry 27232
ثَرًى
A promise that appears near to fulfillment but is not fulfilled.
In قَرِيبُ الثَّرَى بَعِيدُ النَّبَطِ, it characterizes a person who promises but does not fulfill.
- Lane · entry 27232
ثَرًى
Fresh, vigorous, and unbroken friendship.
In لَمْ يَبْبَسِ الثَّرَى بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ, the moisture of the earth metaphorically represents friendship that has not withered or been severed.
- Lane · entry 27232
ثَرٍ
Moist or humid.
Used adjectivally of land, a place, or a day; it may describe earth made moist and soft by rain.
- Lane · entry 27233
مُثْرٍ
Not dry; retaining moisture.
Used of land whose earth has not become dry; it is the active participial form associated with أَثْرَى.
- Lane · entry 27239
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
No Maqāyīs or Mufradāt evidence was supplied, so the root-level orientation is limited to the directly attested lexical field.
The Quranic form has one QAC occurrence, in the expression مَا تَحْتَ الثَّرَى at 20:6:12. Historical lexical citation notation is not treated as an additional modern verse location.
The broader moisture, derived-verb, adjectival, anatomical, and figurative branches are Classical Arabic meanings and are not additional Quranic occurrences.