Quranic root
خنس
kh · n · s
A root orientation toward withdrawing out of sight, retreating, or becoming concealed.
This orientation extends to celestial bodies that disappear or retrograde, the devil's withdrawal at divine mention, withholding or delaying, and physical recession or depression.
- Maqāyīs · row 1656
- 2
- 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.
خَنَّاسٌ
khannāsun
- Part of speech
- Adjective · intensive active participle
- 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 one who withdraws, shrinks away, or hides when God is mentioned—namely, the devil.
An intensive epithet in مِنْ شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ (114:4), describing recurrent withdrawal at the mention of God.
- Lane · entry 20168
- Lane · entry 20175
- Mufradāt · row 440
Selected Quran examples
Quran 114:4word 4
“the one who withdraws”
خَانِسٌ
khānisun
- Part of speech
- Active participle · substantivized in the plural
- 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.
A retreating or concealed celestial body: a star or planet that disappears from view or retrogrades in its course.
In فَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِالْخُنَّسِ (81:15), the plural may refer broadly to stars or specifically to planets; their withdrawal is explained as setting, becoming hidden in daylight, or appearing to reverse course.
- Lane · entry 20177
- Mufradāt · row 440
Selected Quran examples
Quran 81:15word 3
“by the retreating planets”
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
خَنَسَ
To draw back, recede, remain behind, hold back, or lag behind; to withdraw from sight or shrink together.
An intransitive use, including withdrawal from a person or from a company of people; hiding or becoming absent belongs to the same withdrawal branch.
- Lane · entry 20168
- Lane · entry 20177
خَنَسَ
To hide or conceal someone or something, or take it away so that it is no longer seen.
A transitive use, including the construction خَنَسَ بِهِ; the object may be a person or a thing.
- Lane · entry 20168
خَنَسَ
Of a star, to return or retrograde in its course, or to become hidden.
A specialized celestial use described as tropical in the lexical evidence; the Quranic substantivized plural is treated separately under the Quranic form.
- Lane · entry 20168
خَنَسَ
Of palm trees, to be delayed in receiving fecundation and consequently fail to bear fruit that year.
A specialized use describing failure or delay of pollination.
- Lane · entry 20168
خُنُوسٌ
The state or process of being or becoming depressed or lowered.
A general physical-result use, distinct from the more specific descriptions of the nose and sole of the foot.
- Lane · entry 20168
خَنَسٌ
Depression or recession of the nose bone, with the nose contracted or shortened and broad at the tip.
A specific anatomical description of the shape of the nose, including recession toward the face or head.
- Lane · entry 20168
خَنَسٌ
Flatness in the hollow of the sole, with the foot fleshy there.
An anatomical use applied to the foot.
- Lane · entry 20168
أَخْنَسَ
To cause someone or something to recede, remain behind, or be delayed; to keep back, withhold, conceal, or make contract.
Includes withholding part of someone's due and causing a person or thing to be left behind or hidden.
- Lane · entry 20169
خُنُسٌ
A place where gazelles gather or take refuge for cover.
A place-name or place-description associated with gazelles and their covert.
- Lane · entry 20173
أَخْنَسُ
Having the characteristic depressed or receding nose; an epithet applied to certain animals, including gazelles, cattle, a tick, a lion, and a young pig.
The animal applications are conventional extensions of the nasal description; خَنْسَاءُ is also used of a wild cow, and a variant with ص is reported for the young-pig application.
- Lane · entry 20178
خُنْسٌ
Gazelles and bulls or cows, as an animal designation derived from the characteristic nasal form.
The plural form is explicitly used for these animals; خَنْسَاءُ is additionally an epithet for the wild cow.
- Lane · entry 20178
خَانِسٌ
Of lean camels, patient of thirst.
A conventional figurative use in the expression الإِبِلُ ضِمَّرٌ خِنَّسٌ.
- Lane · entry 20177
الخُنَّسُ
The three nights of the lunar month during which the moon withdraws from view.
A conventional plural designation for these nights.
- Lane · entry 20177
خُنْسٌ
Turned-up or deflected at the points, said metaphorically of arrows.
A figurative description of arrows repelled by the folds of a coat of mail.
- Lane · entry 20178
خَنْسَاءُ
Of a foot, flat in the hollow of the sole and fleshy.
An adjectival anatomical use, corresponding to the description of a foot as خَنِسَتْ.
- Lane · entry 20178
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
For الْخُنَّسِ in 81:15, the evidence preserves interpretive alternatives: stars generally or planets specifically, with their withdrawal understood as setting or daytime concealment, retrograde motion, or apparent return in their courses.