Quranic root
وصب
w · ṣ · b
The root centers on the persistence or continuance of something.
This orientation extends to remaining fixed, persistent illness or pain, sustained attention, perpetual punishment or obedience, and far-extending distance. These are related lexical developments, not interchangeable meanings of every derived form.
- Maqāyīs · row 5126
- Lane · entry 45310
- Lane · entry 45316
- Lane · entry 45318
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- Quran senses
- 2
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
وَاصِبٌ
wāṣibun
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- 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.
Perpetual, continuous, or unremitting.
In عَذَابٌ وَاصِبٌ, describes punishment that continues without cessation.
- Lane · entry 45318
- Mufradāt · row 1582
Selected Quran examples
Quran 37:9word 4
“perpetual”
Continuously binding or obligatory, of obedience or religious duty.
In وَلَهُ الدِّينُ وَاصِبًا, describes obedience owed to God continuously, including when it is burdensome or not willingly accepted; the construction may therefore be understood as perpetual obedience or obligatory religion.
- Lane · entry 45318
- Mufradāt · row 1582
Selected Quran examples
Quran 16:52word 8
“constantly”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 2 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 15 Classical meanings
وَصَبَ
To continue, remain constant, or stay fixed, settled, and firm.
Used of a thing or condition; examples include milk continuing and fat remaining in an animal.
- Lane · entry 45310
وَصَبَ عَلَى
To persistently attend or apply oneself to a matter, and to manage or conduct it diligently.
The construction may describe a person, a group, or the sustained management of property or livestock.
- Lane · entry 45310
وَصِبَ
To become ill or suffer bodily pain; in some usages, to experience fatigue, weariness, or languor.
- Lane · entry 45310
تَوَصَّبَ
To suffer bodily pain or become languid.
A derived reflexive or inchoative usage referring to the subject's experience of pain or debility.
- Lane · entry 45310
- Mufradāt · row 1582
وَصَّبَهُ
To tend, nurse, or take care of a sick person.
A causative/intensive caregiving construction used of attending someone during illness.
- Lane · entry 45311
أَوْصَبَهُ
To cause illness or afflict someone with a disease, sickness, or malady.
The construction can also describe illness being brought upon children or upon a group's children.
- Lane · entry 45313
أَوْصَبَتِ النَّاقَةُ الشَّحْمَ
Of a she-camel, to grow fat and remain so.
A specialized animal-related construction describing a continuing state of fatness.
- Lane · entry 45313
أَوْصَبَتِ النَّاقَةُ
Of a she-camel, to yield milk continually.
A specialized animal-related construction concerning continuous milk production.
- Lane · entry 45313
وَصْبٌ
The space between the third finger and the first finger.
An anatomical noun referring to the interval between those fingers.
- Lane · entry 45315
وَصَبٌ
Disease, sickness, or pain; also persistent pain, bodily emaciation caused by fatigue or disease, excessive fatigue, weariness, or languor.
The listed descriptions are related manifestations of illness, pain, and debility; the plural is أَوْصَابٌ.
- Lane · entry 45316
وَصِبٌ
Diseased, ill, sick, or in pain.
An adjective describing a person affected by illness or pain.
- Lane · entry 45317
مَفَازَةٌ وَاصِبَةٌ
A very far-extending desert, seemingly without end.
An adjectival construction describing great or apparently limitless extent.
- Lane · entry 45318
مُوَصَبٌ
Afflicted with a disease, sickness, or malady.
A passive-participial description of one upon whom illness has been inflicted.
- Lane · entry 45319
نَاقَةٌ مُوصِبَةٌ
A she-camel that yields milk continually.
An animal-related participial construction describing continuous milk production.
- Lane · entry 45320
مُوَصَّبٌ
Having many pains or diseases.
An intensive passive-participial description of repeated or multiple afflictions.
- Lane · entry 45321
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic active participle وَاصِبٌ is kept distinct from the illness adjective وَصِبٌ and from the other derived forms.
A historical citation for the religion phrase is printed with an older surah reference convention; the example here uses the independently supplied QAC location 16:52.