Quranic root
وتر
w · t · r
A lexically diverse root associated especially with singularity or oddness, succession at intervals, loss or blood-revenge, tension, and several concrete objects.
The evidence does not support one uniform root analogy. The singular/odd sense extends to making things occur singly or successively with intervals, while separate lexical branches concern deprivation and retaliation, bracing or tension, habitual course, and concrete anatomical or material objects.
- Maqāyīs · row 5018
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 3
- Quran senses
- 3
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
وَتَرَ
watara
- 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 deprive someone of the recompense or due of their deeds; to cause them loss in it.
In the Quranic construction with أَعْمَال, the object is the recompense or due associated with one's deeds.
- Lane · entry 44891
- Mufradāt · row 1549
Selected Quran examples
Quran 47:35word 11
“will deprive you”
تَتْرَى
tatrā
- Part of speech
- Noun · adverbial use
- 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.
One after another; successively, with an interval or interruption between successive arrivals.
Used of messengers or other things arriving successively. The interval may be understood as short, interrupted, or extended according to context and lexical interpretation.
- Lane · entry 44904
- Mufradāt · row 1549
Selected Quran examples
Quran 23:44word 4
“(in) succession”
وَتْر
watr
- 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.
The odd or singular one; the unpaired number or entity.
In وَالشَّفْعِ وَالْوَتْرِ, it is the unpaired counterpart to شَفْع. Traditional interpretations of the Quranic expression include the singular or unequalled One, God, as well as particular individual figures or sacred days.
- Lane · entry 44898
- Mufradāt · row 1549
Selected Quran examples
Quran 89:3word 2
“and the odd”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 3 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 26 Classical meanings
وَتَرَ
To make a number or group single or odd; to render an even number odd; also, to perform an odd-numbered witr prayer.
Used of numbers and of صلاة الوتر, including prayer performed as paired units followed by a single unit.
- Lane · entry 44891
وَتَرَ
To deprive someone of a relative, property, right, or other due; especially to kill or take away a relative or dependent without allowing retaliation, or to inflict loss in property or right.
The evidence includes literal loss through killing or taking away and extended uses for loss or detriment in property and rights.
- Lane · entry 44891
وَتَرٌ / وِتْرٌ / تِرَةٌ
Blood-revenge or retaliation for homicide; the seeking or claim of such retaliation; as a verb, to execute blood-revenge, rightfully or wrongfully.
The nouns may also denote wrongful conduct or a crime in the pursuit of retaliation.
- Lane · entry 44891
- Lane · entry 44898
وَتَرَ
To overtake someone with a displeasing, harmful, or evil action.
- Lane · entry 44891
وَتَرَ
To frighten or terrify someone.
- Lane · entry 44891
وَتَّرَ
To string, fasten, or brace a bow; to attach its string.
The construction concerns fitting or tightening the string on a bow.
- Lane · entry 44892
وَاتَرَ
To make reports, writings, supplies, or observances follow one another at intervals; to alternate them rather than make them continuous.
The evidence includes successive transmissions, supplies arriving repeatedly, and fasting on alternating days.
- Lane · entry 44893
أَوْتَرَ
To enable someone to attain or obtain blood-revenge.
- Lane · entry 44894
تَوَتَّرَ / مُوَتَّرٌ
To become tense or contracted like a braced bowstring; to be taut or contracted.
Applied especially to a sinew, nerve, or vein, and to a horse whose veins are contracted.
- Lane · entry 44895
- Lane · entry 44905
تَوَاتَرَ
To occur consecutively or one after another, with intervals or separation.
Used of camels, birds, horses, writings, and other things arriving separately in succession.
- Lane · entry 44896
وِتْرًا
Singly, separately, or one by one.
An adverbial use derived from the sense of being single or unpaired.
- Lane · entry 44898
صَلَاةُ الوِتْرِ / الوِتْرُ
The witr prayer, especially a single or odd-numbered set of prayer units.
The described practice may consist of paired units followed by a final single unit, or of a single unit.
- Lane · entry 44898
وَتَرٌ
The string of a bow; by extension, a chord of a lute or similar instrument.
Plural forms include أَوْتَار and وِتَار.
- Lane · entry 44899
وَتَرَةٌ
The partition, junction, or edge between the nostrils; a corresponding part at the front of a horse's nose.
The descriptions vary between the septum, subseptum, junction, and edge of the nostril.
- Lane · entry 44900
وَتَرَةٌ
The sinew or tendon of the back.
- Lane · entry 44900
وَتِيرَةٌ
A way, course, mode, or manner of acting; a habitual disposition or consistent practice.
Used in expressions for continuing in one established way or disposition.
- Lane · entry 44902
وَتِيرَةٌ
A road or track that keeps close to a mountain and follows a regular course.
- Lane · entry 44902
وَتِيرَةٌ
Remissness, languor, or faultiness in an affair or work.
Used of a task, activity, journey, or pace in which there is or is not slackness.
- Lane · entry 44902
وَتِيرَةٌ
Delay.
- Lane · entry 44902
وَتِيرَةٌ
Confinement, restriction, or restraint.
- Lane · entry 44902
وَتِيرَةٌ
A ring of sinew or cord used as a target for learning to pierce or cast a spear.
The ring may be made of bowstring or another string or thread.
- Lane · entry 44902
وَتِيرَةٌ
A rose or rose blossom, reported as white, red, or simply a rose-flower.
- Lane · entry 44902
وَتِيرَةٌ
A small, round star, blaze, or white mark on a horse's forehead or face.
A longer mark is distinguished by another term.
- Lane · entry 44902
مَوْتُورٌ
One whose relative or dependent has been slain and who has not obtained retaliation; one who seeks blood-revenge.
The term emphasizes the resulting state of bereavement, separation, and unavenged blood.
- Lane · entry 44906
مُتَوَاتِرٌ
Consecutive or successive at short intervals; of reports, transmitted successively from one person to another.
The term is distinguished from uninterrupted or immediately continuous succession.
- Lane · entry 44907
وَتَرَةٌ
The vein or frenum on the inner side of the glans of the penis.
A specialized anatomical usage.
- Lane · entry 30355
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
For تَتْرَى, the evidence differs on whether the intervals are brief, interrupted, or extended; the stable lexical core is successive arrival.
The Quranic وَتْر in 89:3 has several transmitted interpretations beyond the basic lexical sense of the odd or singular one.
Lane's printed Quran references use legacy citation conventions; the modern verse and word locations in the examples are taken from the supplied QAC data.