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Quranic root

وثن

w · th · n

The root centers on وَثَن, an idol traditionally understood as a stone object worshipped as divine.

Classical lexical evidence also records related derived uses involving becoming strong, making something abundant, and giving lavishly; these are distinct from the Quranic noun sense.

  • Maqāyīs · row 5029
  • Mufradāt · row 1552
1
Quran-attested forms
1
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.

وَثَن

wathan

Part of speech
Noun
Quran occurrences
3 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.

  1. A stone idol worshipped as a deity.

    Quranically attested in the plural أَوْثَان, referring to idols taken or worshipped apart from God.

    • Lane · entry 30374
    • Mufradāt · row 1552
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 22:30word 21

    the idols

    Quran 29:17word 6

    idols

    Quran 29:25word 7

    idols

Occurrences in the Quran

Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.

  • 22:30ٱلْأَوْثَـٰنِthe idols
  • 29:17أَوْثَـٰنًۭاidols
  • 29:25أَوْثَـٰنًۭاidols
View all 3 occurrences

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 2 Classical meanings
  • اِسْتَوْثَنَ

    To become strong.

    A classical derived use recorded with the expression اِسْتَوْثَنَ الشَّيْءُ.

    • Maqāyīs · row 5029
  • أَوْثَنَ

    To make something abundant or increase it; to give lavishly or have much of something.

    Used transitively of increasing a load or giving someone generously, and with مِنْ to indicate having or doing much of something.

    • Maqāyīs · row 5029
    • Mufradāt · row 1552

Cautions

Points that affect how this root should be read.

  • The Quranic occurrences are plural forms أَوْثَان; وَثَن is used as the normalized singular dictionary headword.