نكر

Root entry · 27 derived lemmas

This root primarily concerns concepts of intelligence, cunning, and astuteness, often in a negative or challenging context. It also extends to meanings of strangeness, severity, denial, and rejection, as well as the act of changing or altering something.

Derived headwords

النُّكْر والنَّكْرَاءnoun

1.
cunning, astutenessclassical
Intelligence and shrewdness, often implying a cleverness that can be deceptive.

نَكِرadjective

1.
cunning, astuteclassical
Describing a person who is intelligent and shrewd, often with a hint of craftiness.

نَكْرadjective

1.
cunning, astuteclassical
Describing a person who is intelligent and shrewd, often with a hint of craftiness.

مُنْكِرadjective

1.
cunning, astuteclassical
Describing a person who is intelligent and shrewd, often with a hint of craftiness.
2.
strange, unusualboth
Referring to something that is odd, unfamiliar, or out of the ordinary.
3.
heinous, reprehensibleboth
Describing an act or thing that is morally wrong, forbidden, or detestable.

مَنَاكِيرnoun

1.
cunning peopleclassical
Plural of 'nakkir', referring to a group of cunning or astute individuals.
2.
strange thingsboth
Plural of 'munkar', referring to unusual or strange matters.

الإنْكَارnoun

1.
denial, rejectionboth
The act of disbelieving, rejecting, or refusing to acknowledge something.
2.
questioningclassical
The act of inquiring about something one finds strange or does not accept.

المُنَاكَرَةnoun

1.
hostility, combatclassical
The state of being in conflict, fighting, or engaging in warfare with someone.
2.
deception, trickeryclassical
The act of trying to outwit or deceive another person, especially in conflict.

نَاكَرَverb

1.
to fight, to combatclassical
To engage in battle or conflict with an opponent.
2.
to deceive, to outwitclassical
To try to trick or outmaneuver someone, especially in a context of conflict.

النَّكْرnoun

1.
severe matterclassical
A difficult, severe, or grave affair or situation.
2.
cunning, astutenessclassical
Intelligence and shrewdness, often implying a cleverness that can be deceptive.

النَّكَارَةnoun

1.
cunning, astutenessclassical
Intelligence and shrewdness, often implying a cleverness that can be deceptive.
2.
severityclassical
The quality of being difficult, severe, or grave.

نَكِرَverb

1.
to be difficult, severeclassical
To become hard, intense, or severe.

أَنْكَرَverb

1.
to deny, to rejectboth
To refuse to acknowledge the truth or existence of something; to disavow.
2.
to find strangeboth
To consider something unusual, odd, or unfamiliar.
3.
to be ignorant ofclassical
To not know or be aware of something.

نَكِرَverb

1.
to be ignorant ofclassical
To not know or be aware of something.

نَكَرْتُverb

1.
to be ignorant ofclassical
To not know or be aware of something.

نَكِرْتُverb

1.
to recognize (negatively)both
To perceive or acknowledge someone or something, often with a sense of strangeness or unfamiliarity.

اسْتَنْكَرَverb

1.
to find strange, to deem oddboth
To consider something unusual, peculiar, or unacceptable.
2.
to deny, to rejectboth
To refuse to acknowledge or accept something.

تَنَاكَرَverb

1.
to pretend not to knowclassical
To act as if one does not recognize or know someone or something.

المَعْرُوفnoun

1.
the knownboth
That which is recognized, familiar, or established.

النَّكِرَةnoun

1.
the unknownboth
That which is not known, unrecognized, or unfamiliar; the opposite of 'ma'ruf'.
2.
a strange thingclassical
An unusual or remarkable occurrence or object.
3.
pus, dischargeclassical
Matter or fluid that comes out of a wound or sore, like pus or blood.

نَكِيراًnoun

1.
change, alterationclassical
The act of changing or altering something, often implying a negative transformation.

التَّنَكُّرnoun

1.
change of stateclassical
A transformation from one condition to another, typically from good to bad.
2.
disguisemodern
The act of changing one's appearance or identity to conceal oneself.

النَّكِيرnoun

1.
change, alterationclassical
The act of changing or altering something, often implying a negative transformation.
2.
punishment, retributionclassical
Divine punishment or a severe consequence for wrongdoing.

طَرِيقٌ يَنْكُورadjective

1.
unintended pathclassical
A route taken without specific intention or purpose.

مُنْكَرٌ ونَكِيرname

1.
Munkar and Nakirclassical
The names of the two angels who question the deceased in the grave.

نَاكُورname

1.
Nakurclassical
A proper name.

ابْنُ نَكِرَةname

1.
Ibn Nakirahclassical
A man from the tribe of Taym who was known for his skill in horse racing.

بَنُو نَكِرَةname

1.
Banu Nakirahclassical
A clan or tribe among the Arabs.

Parallel reading

ورجل نكر ونكر ونكر ومنكر من قوم مناكير: داه فطن؛ حكاه سيبويه.

And a man is 'nakkir', 'nakir', 'nakir', and 'munkir' from a people of 'manakir': cunning and intelligent; narrated by Sibawayh.

قلت لأبي علي في هذا ونحوه: أفنقول إن هذا لأنه قد جاء عنهم مفعل ومفعال في معنى واحد كثيرا، نحو مذكر ومذكار ومؤنث ومئناث ومحمق ومحماق وغير ذلك، فصار جمع أحدهما كجمع صاحبه، فإذا جمع محمقا فكأنه جمع محماقا، وكذلك مسم ومسام، كما أن قولهم درع دلاص وأدرع دلاص وناقة هجان ونوق هجان كسر فيه فعال على فعال من حيث كان فعال وفعيل أختين، كلتاهما من ذوات الثلاثة، وفيه زائدة مدة ثالثة، فكما كسروا فعيلا على فعال نحو ظريف وظراف وشريف وشراف، كذلك كسروا فعالا على فعال فقالوا درع دلاص وأدرع دلاص، وكذلك نظائره؟

I said to Abu Ali regarding this and similar cases: Shall we say this is because they have frequently used 'maf'al' and 'mif'al' with one meaning, like 'mudhakir' and 'mudhakkar', 'mu'annath' and 'mu'annath', 'muhaqqiq' and 'muhaqqiq', and others? So the plural of one became like the plural of its counterpart. If 'muhaqqiq' is pluralized, it's as if 'muhaqqiq' is pluralized. Likewise 'musamm' and 'musamm'. Just as their saying 'dir'un dalas' and 'adru'un dalas', and 'naqah hajan' and 'nuq hajan', where 'fa'al' is broken into 'fa'al' because 'fa'al' and 'fa'il' are sisters, both from triliteral roots, and there is a third lengthening vowel. So just as they broke 'fa'il' into 'fa'al' like 'zarif' and 'zaraf', 'sharif' and 'sharaf', they also broke 'fa'al' into 'fa'al', saying 'dir'un dalas' and 'adru'un dalas', and similarly for its parallels?

فقال أبو علي: فلست أدفع ذلك ولا آباه.

Abu Ali replied: I do not reject that, nor do I disapprove of it.

والإنكار: الجحود.

And 'al-inkar': denial.

والمناكرة: المحاربة.

And 'al-munakarah': combat.

وقاتله لأن كل واحد من المتحاربين يناكر الآخر أي يداهيه ويخادعه.

And he fought him because each of the combatants 'yunakir' the other, meaning he deceives and tricks him.

يقال: فلان يناكر فلانا.

It is said: So-and-so 'yunakir' so-and-so.

وبينهما مناكرة أي معاداة وقتال.

And between them is 'munakarah', meaning enmity and fighting.

إن محمدا لم يناكر أحدا إلا كانت معه الأهوال أي لم يحارب إلا كان منصورا بالرعب.

Muhammad did not 'yunakir' anyone except that terrors were with him, meaning he did not fight except that he was victorious through dread.

إن أنكر الأصوات لصوت الحمير ؛ قال: أقبح الأصوات.

Indeed, the most 'ankar' of voices is the braying of donkeys; he said: the ugliest of voices.

والنكر والنكر الأمر الشديد.

And 'al-nukr' and 'al-nukr' is the severe matter.

تقول: فعله من نكره ونكارته.

You say: His action was from his 'nukrih' and his 'nakaratih'.

إني لأكره النكارة في الرجل ، يعني الدهاء.

I detest 'al-nakarah' in a man, meaning cunning.

ما أشد نكره ونكره أيضا، بالفتح.

How strong is his 'nakrih' and also his 'nakarih', with fathah.

وقد نكر الأمر، بالضم، أي صعب واشتد.

And the matter 'nakira', with dammah, meaning it became difficult and severe.

ما كان أنكره أي أدهاه، من النكر، بالضم، وهو الدهاء والأمر المنكر.

How cunning he was, meaning how astute he was, from 'al-nukr', with dammah, which is cunning and a reprehensible matter.

كنت لي أشد نكرة ؛ النكرة، بالتحريك: الاسم من الإنكار كالنفقة من الإنفاق، قال: والنكرة إنكارك الشيء، وهو نقيض المعرفة.

You were more severe towards me in 'nakirah'; 'al-nakirah', with harakah: is the noun from 'al-inkar' like 'al-nafaqah' from 'al-infaq'. He said: And 'al-nakirah' is your denial of a thing, and it is the opposite of 'al-ma'rifah'.

والنكرة: خلاف المعرفة.

And 'al-nakirah': is the opposite of 'al-ma'rifah'.

ونكر الأمر نكيرا وأنكره إنكارا ونكرا: جهله؛ عن كراع.

And the matter 'nakira' with 'nakiran', and 'ankara' with 'inkaran' and 'nakran': to be ignorant of it; according to Kurra'.

وأنكرتني، وما كان الذي نكرت ... من الحوادث إلا الشيب والصلعا

And you did not recognize me, and what you did not recognize ... from the events was only gray hair and baldness.

نكرهم وأوجس منهم خيفة ؛

He did not recognize them and felt fear from them;

ولا يستعمل نكر في غابر ولا أمر ولا نهي.

And 'nakara' is not used in the past tense, nor in the imperative, nor in the prohibition.

نكرت الرجل، بالكسر، نكرا ونكورا وأنكرته واستنكرته كله بمعنى.

You encountered the man, with kasrah, 'nakran' and 'nukuran', and 'ankartuhu' and 'istankartuhu' all have the same meaning.

واستنكره وتناكره، كلاهما: كنكره.

And 'istankarahu' and 'tanakaruhu', both: are like 'nakarahu'.

الإنكار: الاستفهام عما ينكره، وذلك إذا أنكرت أن تثبت رأي السائل على ما ذكر، أو تنكر أن يكون رأيه على خلاف ما ذكر، وذلك كقوله: ضربت زيداً، فتقول منكراً لقوله: أزيدنيه؟

Al-inkar: is to inquire about what one denies, and that is if you deny that the questioner's opinion is as stated, or deny that his opinion is contrary to what was stated. This is like his saying: I hit Zayd, and you say, denying his statement: Did I hit him?

والمنكر من الأمر: خلاف المعروف، وقد تكرر في الحديث الإنكار والمنكر، وهو ضد المعروف، وكل ما قبحه الشرع وحرمه وكرهه، فهو منكر، ونكره ينكره نكرا، فهو منكور، واستنكره فهو مستنكر، والجمع مناكير؛ عن سيبويه.

And 'al-munkar' of a matter: is the opposite of 'al-ma'ruf'. And 'al-inkar' and 'al-munkar' have been repeated in the hadith. It is the opposite of 'al-ma'ruf'. And everything that is deemed ugly by the Sharia, forbidden, and disliked, is 'munkar'. And it 'nakiruhu' 'yunakiruhu' 'nakran', so it is 'mankur', and 'istankarah' so it is 'mustankar'. And the plural is 'manakir'; according to Sibawayh.

وإنما أذكر مثل هذا الجمع لأن حكم مثله أن الجمع بالواو والنون في المذكر وبالألف والتاء في المؤنث.

I only mention such a plural because the rule for its like is that the plural is with 'waw' and 'nun' for masculine and with 'alif' and 'ta' for feminine.

والنكر والنكراء، ممدود: المنكر.

And 'al-nukr' and 'al-nakra', extended: is 'al-munkir'.

لقد جئت شيئا نكرا ، قال: وقد يحرك مثل عسر وعسر؛ قال الشاعر الأسود بن يعفر:

You have brought a 'nakran' thing. He said: And it can be vocalized like 'usrin' and 'usrin'; the poet Al-Aswad bin Ya'fur said:

أتوني فلم أرض ما بيتوا، ... وكانوا أتوني بشيء نكر

They came to me, and I did not approve of what they planned... And they came to me with something 'nakir'.

ورجل نكر ونكر أي داه منكر، وكذلك الذي ينكر المنكر، وجمعهما أنكار، مثل عضد وأعضاد وكبد وأكباد.

And a man is 'nakkir' and 'nakir', meaning a cunning 'munkir'. Likewise is he who denies 'al-munkar'. And their plural is 'ankar', like 'adud' and 'a'dad', 'kabid' and 'akbid'.

والتنكر: التغير، زاد التهذيب: عن حال تسرك إلى حال تكرهها منه.

And 'al-tannakkur': change, Al-Tahdhib added: from a state that pleases you to a state that you dislike from him.

والنكير: اسم الإنكار الذي معناه التغيير.

And 'al-nakir': is the name of the denial that means change.

فكيف كان نكير* ؛ أي إنكاري.

Then how was My 'nakir*'; meaning My changing.

وقد نكره فتنكر أي غيره فتغير إلى مجهول.

And He changed him, so he 'tanakkara', meaning He altered him, so he changed into the unknown.

والنكير والإنكار: تغيير المنكر.

And 'al-nakir' and 'al-inkar': are changing 'al-munkar'.

والنكرة: ما يخرج من الحولاء والخراج من دم أو قيح كالصديد، وكذلك من الزحير.

And 'al-nakirah': is what comes out of a sore or abscess, like blood or pus, and similarly from straining.

ويقال: أسهل فلان نكرة ودما، وليس له فعل مشتق.

It is said: So-and-so passed 'nakirah' and blood, and it has no derived verb.

والتناكر: التجاهل.

And 'al-tanakur': feigning ignorance.

وطريق ينكور: على غير قصد.

And a path 'yankur': unintentionally.

منكر ونكير: اسما ملكين، مفعل وفعيل؛ قال ابن سيده: منكر ونكير فتانا القبور.

Munkar and Nakir: the names of two angels, 'maf'al' and 'fa'il'; Ibn Sidah said: Munkar and Nakir are the two who test in the grave.

ناكور: اسم.

Nakur: a name.

وابن نكرة: رجل من تيم كان من مدركي الخيل السوابق؛ عن ابن الأعرابي.

And Ibn Nakirah: a man from Taym who was among the pursuers of the leading horses; from Ibn Al-A'rabi.

وبنو نكرة: بطن من العرب.

And Banu Nakirah: a clan of the Arabs.