Quranic root
زفف
z · f · f
The root centers on lightness, especially light or rapid movement.
From the light, swift movement of an ostrich and the motion of wind, the root develops meanings of hastening, conducting a bride with festive alacrity, and related descriptions of feathers, pace, sound, and movement.
- Maqāyīs · row 2259
- Mufradāt · row 622
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- Quran senses
- 1
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
زَفَّ
zaffa
- 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 hasten; move quickly.
In the Quranic occurrence, it describes a group advancing toward someone in rapid movement. The lexical descriptions allow movement that is light and quick, sometimes with short steps.
- Lane · entry 31283
- Mufradāt · row 622
Selected Quran examples
Quran 37:94word 3
“hastening”
To cause or carry others into swift movement.
A separately reported reading or interpretation of the Quranic construction at 37:94 understands the subject as making its companions hasten, rather than simply hastening itself.
- Mufradāt · row 622
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 37:94يَزِفُّونَhastening
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 28 Classical meanings
زَفَّ
To send or conduct a bride to her husband in a festive procession.
The expression commonly includes ceremonial parade, pageantry, or music; it is a metaphorical extension from light, joyful movement.
- Lane · entry 31283
زَفَّ رَأْلُهُ
To become light-witted, light of intellect, or irresolute.
A figurative use describing a loss of steadiness or judgment.
- Lane · entry 31283
زَفَّ
Of a bird, to cast itself into flight, spread its wings, or flap them while running.
The usage concerns the characteristic movement of a bird in flight or in the transition between running and flying.
- Lane · entry 31283
زَفَّتِ الرِّيحُ
Of wind, to blow along gently or continuously; also to blow with force or moan among trees.
Classical descriptions vary between gentle continuous blowing and violent, sounding movement.
- Lane · entry 31283
زَفَّ
Of lightning, to shine or gleam.
A specialized use describing the flashing of lightning.
- Lane · entry 31283
أَزَفَّ
To make someone or an animal hasten or go quickly.
Recorded especially with a camel or ostrich as the object.
- Lane · entry 31284
أَزَفَّ
To lead someone into light or vain activities.
A reported Classical usage with the sense of inducing frivolous action.
- Lane · entry 31284
اِزْدَفَّ
To carry, take up and carry, or raise a load upon one's back.
The cited construction is اِزْدَفَّ الحِمْلَ, ‘he carried the load.’
- Lane · entry 31285
اِسْتَزَفَّهُ
For a torrent to find something light to carry and then carry it away.
The object is treated as easy for the torrent to move.
- Lane · entry 31286
زَفْزَفَ
To move in a comely or vehemently rapid manner; of camels, to travel at a pace beyond ordinary trotting.
The description covers graceful walking, vehement running, and a distinctive fast camel gait.
- Lane · entry 31287
زَفْزَفَ
Of wind, to stir dry herbage and make a sound in it.
The usage describes the audible movement of wind through dry vegetation.
- Lane · entry 31287
زَفْزَفَةٌ
The noise of a procession or company moving along; also the twanging sound of a rotating arrow.
These are conventional sound descriptions associated with a moving group or a sounding arrow.
- Lane · entry 31287
زَفْزَفَ
To tremble or quake; in another reported vocalization, to moan as a sick person.
A rare variant usage is recorded in a reported saying and involves trembling or moaning.
- Lane · entry 31287
زِفٌّ
Small, soft feathers or down, especially the small feathers beneath an ostrich's thicker plumage.
The term is chiefly associated with ostrich feathers, though it is also extended to similar feathers of birds generally.
- Lane · entry 31289
زَفَّةٌ
A single time or occurrence; a single act of hastening.
The first sense is a figurative use equivalent to ‘once’ or ‘one time.’
- Lane · entry 31290
زُفَّةٌ
A company or gathered body of people.
It may refer to bringing people in company after company.
- Lane · entry 31291
زَفَفٌ
The condition of a male ostrich having abundant and dense small feathers.
The meaning denotes the quality of possessing plentiful زِفّ.
- Lane · entry 31292
زَفُوفٌ
Quick and good in pace, especially of a she-camel.
The animal is likened to an ostrich for speed; زَفُوفُ is also recorded as the name of a horse.
- Lane · entry 31293
زَفُوفٌ
A twanging bow.
A specialized noun for a bow producing a characteristic sound.
- Lane · entry 31293
زَفِيفٌ
Quick and light; also the verbal noun or simple noun of hastening.
The adjective describes lightness and speed, while the nominal use denotes swift movement.
- Lane · entry 31294
زَفْزَفٌ
A swift or violent wind that blows continuously and makes a moaning sound among trees.
The term can emphasize either the wind's speed, violence, continuity, or sound.
- Lane · entry 31297
زَفْزَفٌ
Light in movement or action.
A general adjectival use derived from the root's association with lightness.
- Lane · entry 31297
زَفْزَفٌ
An ostrich, named for its light pace or the movement of its wings while running.
The designation is motivated by the ostrich's characteristic rapid movement.
- Lane · entry 31297
زَفَازِفُ
The plural of زَفْزَف; in poetic usage, birds possessing downy feathers.
The down-feather interpretation is a poetic usage rather than the ordinary plural sense.
- Lane · entry 31299
زَافٌّ
One who conducts a bride to her husband.
The feminine plural may refer to women who conduct the bride in procession.
- Lane · entry 31300
أَزَفُّ
A male ostrich having abundant and dense small feathers.
The description refers to the abundance of its زِفّ.
- Lane · entry 31301
مِزَفَّةٌ
A vehicle or litter in which, or upon which, a bride is conducted to her husband.
The object is a bride's ceremonial conveyance.
- Lane · entry 31302
مَزْفُوفٌ
Made to tremble or quake, as when shaken by wind.
A rare and explicitly uncertain passive-participial usage preserved in the phrase بَاتَ مَزْفُوفًا.
- Lane · entry 31303
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic form is presented under the normalized Form I citation form زَفَّ, while the supplied occurrence is the imperfect plural يَزِفُّونَ.
The Quran-focused evidence reports an alternate causative interpretation or reading for 37:94; it is represented as a second sense under the same QAC form group, not as a separate QAC form.
Several Classical entries preserve variant vocalizations, rare attributions, or pointer references; pointer-only material is not treated as an independent meaning, while rare lexical usages remain explicitly qualified.