Quranic root
خسر
kh · s · r
The root centers on diminution: something falls short, and the person, possession, or undertaking consequently becomes a loser.
From the basic notion of نقص, the lexicon develops meanings of commercial loss and deficiency, then figurative forfeiture of worldly or spiritual acquisitions, ruin, error, and causative loss.
- Maqāyīs · row 1578
- Mufradāt · row 406
- 9
- Quran-attested forms
- 10
- Quran senses
- 65
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
خَسِرَ
khasira
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 16 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.
To suffer loss or diminution; to be a loser through forfeiting a possession, benefit, faith, reward, or other acquisition.
In Quranic usage the loss is chiefly spiritual or ultimate, though the lexical notion includes loss of worldly and personal acquisitions. The verb is normally intransitive, but Quranic constructions may place the lost object directly after it.
- Lane · entry 19075
- Mufradāt · row 406
Selected Quran examples
Quran 22:11word 19
“He has lost”
To lose oneself and one's family, becoming ruined, deprived of them, or separated from them permanently.
A Quranic construction with the self and family as the lost objects; the result is explained in terms of error, ruin, deprivation, or lasting separation.
- Lane · entry 19075
- Mufradāt · row 406
Selected Quran examples
Quran 39:15word 10
“(will) lose”
أَخْسَرَ
ʾakhsara
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- 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.
To make a due amount deficient; to give less than is due, especially in weighing or measuring.
Used in the Quranic construction concerning the balance and fair measure. The Form IV citation form is أَخْسَرَ; the supplied Quran occurrences are imperfect forms.
- Mufradāt · row 406
- Lane · entry 19075
- Lane · entry 19077
Selected Quran examples
Quran 55:9word 5
“make deficient”
Quran 83:3word 5
“they give less”
أَخْسَرُ
ʾakhsaru
- Part of speech
- Elative adjective · substantivized
- Quran occurrences
- 4 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.
The greatest loser; one who suffers or will suffer the greatest loss.
The Quranic form is the substantivized elative, occurring in masculine plural forms.
- Lane · entry 19096
Selected Quran examples
Quran 18:103word 4
“of the greatest losers”
Quran 21:70word 5
“the greatest losers”
مُخْسِرٌ
mukhsirun
- Part of speech
- 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.
One who causes loss by making a due amount fall short, especially one who gives less than required.
The Quranic active participle occurs in the context of underweighing or giving less than the proper measure.
- Mufradāt · row 406
- Lane · entry 19075
Selected Quran examples
Quran 26:181word 6
“those who cause loss”
تَخْسِيرٌ
takhsīrun
- Part of speech
- Verbal 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 bringing about or increase of loss or ruin.
The Quranic occurrence is a verbal noun in a construction expressing an increase of loss; the causative sense may include bringing about destruction or perishing.
- Lane · entry 19076
Selected Quran examples
Quran 11:63word 22
“(in) loss”
خَاسِرٌ
khāsirun
- Part of speech
- Active participle / adjective
- Quran occurrences
- 33 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.
Losing or suffering loss; a loser; losing or loss-making when used adjectivally of an outcome.
The Quran uses masculine plural forms substantivally for those who suffer spiritual or ultimate loss, and a feminine form adjectivally of a losing outcome or return.
- Mufradāt · row 406
- Lane · entry 19086
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:27word 20
“(are) the losers”
Quran 79:12word 5
“losing”
خَسَارٌ
khasārun
- 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.
Loss or diminution.
A verbal noun used for the state or result of falling short, losing, or suffering diminution.
- Lane · entry 19075
Selected Quran examples
Quran 17:82word 13
“(in) loss”
Quran 35:39word 24
“(in) loss”
خُسْرٌ
khusrun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- 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.
Loss or ruin; the condition of being deprived of gain or salvation.
In the Quranic occurrence in 103:2, the term is also reported as an interpretation meaning punishment for sin.
- Lane · entry 19078
- Mufradāt · row 406
Selected Quran examples
Quran 103:2word 4
“loss”
Quran 65:9word 7
“loss”
خُسْرَانٌ
khusrānun
- 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.
Loss or forfeiture, especially the manifest spiritual loss of the self, family, faith, or reward.
In Quranic usage this denotes ultimate or religious loss rather than merely a commercial loss; it may be attributed to a person or to an action or condition.
- Lane · entry 19075
- Mufradāt · row 406
Selected Quran examples
Quran 39:15word 18
“(is) the loss”
Quran 4:119word 20
“a loss”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:27ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ(are) the losers
- 2:64ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَthe losers
- 2:121ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ(are) the losers
- 3:85ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَthe losers
- 3:149خَـٰسِرِينَ(as) losers
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 22 Classical meanings
خَسِرَ
To err, go astray, deviate from or miss the right way; to become lost, perish, or die.
A broader Classical Arabic usage distinct from the Quranic noun-and-verb vocabulary of spiritual forfeiture.
- Lane · entry 19075
خَسَرَ
To make someone or something suffer loss or become deficient, including by diminishing a weight, measure, or balance.
Transitive usage; it may also convey causing someone to err, go astray, become lost, or perish.
- Lane · entry 19075
خَسَّرَ
To destroy someone or cause him to perish.
Form II causative usage.
- Lane · entry 19076
خَسَّرَ
To put someone away, remove, alienate, or estrange him from good or prosperity.
A Form II causative construction with a person as the affected object.
- Lane · entry 19076
خَسَّرَ
To attribute or impute loss, error, or deviation to someone.
A Form II attributional construction.
- Lane · entry 19076
أَخْسَرَ
To make someone suffer loss in trade; to fall into loss in one's traffic.
Form IV commercial usage, contrasted with making a profit.
- Lane · entry 19077
خُسْرَانٌ
Loss or diminution; error or deviation from the right way; becoming lost, perishing, or dying.
Broader Classical Arabic nominal usage beyond the Quran's specifically spiritual framing.
- Lane · entry 19080
خُسْرَوَانِيٌّ
A particular kind of garment or cloth.
A lexical item associated with Khusrow; unrelated to the ordinary loss sense.
- Lane · entry 19082
خُسْرَوَانِيٌّ
A certain wine or beverage.
A specialized Classical Arabic noun.
- Lane · entry 19082
خَسَارٌ
Error, deviation from the right way, perdition, or death.
A broader nominal branch of خَسَارٌ distinct from its Quranic loss sense.
- Lane · entry 19083
خَسَارٌ
Baseness, ignobleness, ungenerousness, meanness, or perfidy.
A figurative or characterizing use in Classical Arabic.
- Lane · entry 19083
خَاسِرٌ
One who loses or suffers loss in trade; a losing bargain or an unprofitable charge.
Commercial and figurative extensions of the active participle.
- Lane · entry 19086
خَاسِرٌ
One who has lost his property or his intellect.
A Classical descriptive use of the active participle.
- Lane · entry 19086
خَاسِرٌ
Erring, going astray, deviating from or missing the right way; becoming lost, perishing, or dying.
A Classical active-participial branch related to error and ruin.
- Lane · entry 19086
خَاسِرٌ
One who makes the measure or balance deficient when giving, while demanding excess when receiving.
A specialized commercial description of dishonest weighing.
- Lane · entry 19086
خَنْسَرٌ
A man in a state or condition of loss.
A specialized nominal derivative; its plural may designate a group characterized by weakness or smallness.
- Lane · entry 19088
خَنْسَرٌ
In plural usage, weak or small people, or people characterized by perfidy, treachery, baseness, or meanness.
The plural lexical branch الخَنَاسِرَةُ and related forms.
- Lane · entry 19088
خِنْسِرٌ
Base, ignoble, ungenerous, mean, perfidious, unfaithful, or treacherous.
An adjectival or nominal characterization of a person.
- Lane · entry 19089
خِنْسِرٌ
A calamity or misfortune.
A separate nominal usage, with a plural in this sense.
- Lane · entry 19089
خَيْسَرَى
One who refuses an invitation to partake of food lest he be required to make a requital.
An idiomatic usage reported in a traditional saying.
- Lane · entry 19091
خَنَاسِيرُ
The urine of mountain goats deposited upon herbage and trees or shrubs.
A plural-form noun with no singular in this specialized sense.
- Lane · entry 19095
مَخْسَرَةٌ
An occasion or cause of loss, error, going astray, being lost, perishing, or dying.
A noun of occasion or cause; it may also be used figuratively of something whose mockery or ridicule brings loss.
- Lane · entry 19097
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The interpretation of خُسْرٍ in 103:2 as punishment for sin is reported as one interpretation, not as the sole meaning.
The measure-related Quran evidence is assigned to the independently identified QAC Form IV occurrences; Lane's discussion also records variant readings and related transitive forms.