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Quranic root

خوض

kh · w · ḍ

The root centers on entering or passing through the midst of something.

Its literal orientation is entering and moving through water; this extends to entering discourse and affairs. In Quranic usage, the discourse sense is predominantly blameworthy: engaging in vain or false talk.

  • Maqāyīs · row 1671
  • Mufradāt · row 443
3
Quran-attested forms
3
Quran senses
12
Quran occurrences

Forms in the Quran

The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.

خَاضَ

khāḍa

Part of speech
Verb · Form I
Form
I
Quran occurrences
9 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. To enter into or engage in vain or false discourse; to speak falsely or indulge in such discourse concerning a matter.

    In Quranic constructions, especially with discourse, a matter, or divine signs, and with those already engaged in such talk. The sense may be rendered “engage,” “converse vainly,” or “indulge in vain talk.”

    • Lane · entry 20279
    • Mufradāt · row 443
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 6:68word 4

    engage (in vain talks)

    Quran 9:69word 21

    and you indulge

    Quran 43:83word 2

    (to) converse vainly

خَائِض

khāʾiḍ

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.

  1. One who engages in vain or false discourse.

    A participant in the blameworthy discourse described by the corresponding Form I verb; in the Quranic expression, those who engage in such talk.

    • Lane · entry 20279
    • Mufradāt · row 443
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 74:45word 4

    the vain talkers

خَوْض

khawḍ

Part of speech
Verbal 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.

  1. Engaging in vain or false discourse; vain discourse.

    The verbal noun of خَاضَ in its Quranic discourse sense, including engaging in talk about divine signs or other blameworthy subjects.

    • Lane · entry 20279
    • Mufradāt · row 443
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 6:91word 43

    their discourse

    Quran 52:12word 4

    (vain) discourse

Occurrences in the Quran

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

  • 4:140يَخُوضُوا۟they engage
  • 6:68يَخُوضُونَengage (in vain talks)
  • 6:68يَخُوضُوا۟they engage
  • 6:91خَوْضِهِمْtheir discourse
  • 9:65نَخُوضُconversing
View all 12 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 14 Classical meanings
  • خَاضَ

    To wade or ford through water, entering it and walking in or through it; with an animal, to bring it to the water.

    The literal sense extends to passing through an expanse such as mirage, penetrating darkness, or forcing a way through spears.

    • Lane · entry 20279
  • خَاضَ

    To plunge into dangers, ignorance, or an affair.

    A figurative extension of entering and moving through something; the source illustrates both plunging into the floods of ignorance and entering into an affair.

    • Lane · entry 20279
  • خَوْض

    Confusion or confounding in an affair.

    A figurative nominal use distinct from the Quranic noun’s discourse sense.

    • Lane · entry 20279
  • خَاضَ

    To mix and stir a beverage or wine; to stir sawiq with a mixing implement.

    A concrete culinary use of the verb.

    • Lane · entry 20279
  • خَاضَ

    To move a sword in someone after striking; specifically, to thrust it into the lower abdomen and raise it upward.

    An idiomatic violent use with the sword as object.

    • Lane · entry 20279
  • خَاضَ

    To put a borrowed arrow among the arrows used in the game of maysir, in hope of gaining good luck.

    A specialized expression connected with the pre-Islamic arrow game.

    • Lane · entry 20279
  • خَوَّضَ

    To wallow in effused blood.

    The doubled Form II is described as intensifying the underlying action.

    • Lane · entry 20280
  • أَخَاضَ

    To make an animal wade or ford through water.

    A causative Form IV construction, used with an animal or with horses.

    • Lane · entry 20282
  • أَخَاضَ

    Of water, to admit of being walked, waded, or forded through.

    An intransitive Form IV use in which the water is described as passable.

    • Lane · entry 20282
  • تَخَوَّضَ

    To constrain oneself to wade or ford in or through water.

    A reflexive or self-directed Form V use; this is identified as the primary signification of the derived form.

    • Lane · entry 20283
  • تَخَوَّضَ

    To occupy oneself with an affair and manage it using artifice, cunning, judgment, or discretion.

    A figurative Form V use concerning the handling or disposal of an affair.

    • Lane · entry 20283
  • تَخَوَّضَ

    To acquire property improperly by whatever means are possible.

    A specialized interpretation reported for the construction concerning property.

    • Lane · entry 20283
  • مِخْوَض

    An implement used to mix and stir a beverage, wine, or sawiq.

    A concrete instrument noun derived from the mixing use of the root.

    • Lane · entry 20287
  • مَخَاضَة

    A ford: a place where people or animals pass through water on foot or while riding.

    The noun denotes the place or crossing itself, with documented plural forms.

    • Lane · entry 20288

Cautions

Points that affect how this root should be read.

  • Lane’s printed Quran references use historical citation conventions; the modern verse and word locations shown here are taken from the independently supplied QAC occurrences.