Core sense — a head; the top of a thing; a chief; the beginning of a thinggenerated
1
Generally with ء, except in the dialect of Benoo-Temeem, who always drop the ء.
[The head of a man and of any animal;] a certain well-known part of an animal: masculine by common consent.
Also the highest, or uppermost, part, or top, or summit, of a thing, or of anything, as for instance of a mountain; and the upper, or uppermost, part of a valley: see رَائِسٌ.
Plural (of paucity) أَرْؤُسٌ and, by transposition, آرُسٌ (originally أَأْرُسٌ; written in the L, wrongly, أٓاراس); and (of multitude) رُؤُوسُ (by some carelessly written رُؤُسٌ, and by some, allowably, رُؤُٓسٌ), which is not transposed; and رُوْسٌ, in which a letter is left out.
A poet uses the plural for the dual, saying: [The heads of the two great ones, or old ones, of them, smite each other with their horns]
shāhidرُؤُوسُ كَبِيرَيْهِنَّ يَنْتَطِحَانِ
1.1
أُمُّ الرَّأْسِ: see أُمٌّ.
1.2the day of the heads—يَوْمُ الرُّؤُوسِ
Applied by the people of Mekkeh to the day called يَوْمُ القَرِّ, because then they eat the heads of the animals sacrificed.
1.3figurative · مجازhe kissed his head—أَصَابَ رَأْسَهُ
A metonymic phrase.
1.4figurative · مجاز — inferredhe turned away from him, did not look towards him or pay him any attention, and deemed him troublesome—رُمِىَ فُلَانٌ مِنْهُ فِى الرَّأْسِ
Literally, such a one was shot by him in the head.
you have an evil opinion of me, so that you cannot look towards me—رُمِيتُ مِنْكَ فِى الرَّأْسِ
1.5
رَكِبَ رَأْسَهُ: see the article ركب.
1.6figurative · مجاز — inferredshe brought forth her children one closely after another—وَلَدَتْ وَلَدَهَا عَلَى رَأْسٍ وَاحِدٍ
he had three children born to him one closely after another—وُلِدَ لَهُ ثَلَاثَةُ أَوْلَادٍ رَأْسًا عَلَى إِثْرِ رَأْسٍ
Also رَأْسًا عَلَى رَأْسٍ.
make this thing to be [uniform, or] of one way, or mode, or manner—اِجْعَلْ هٰذَا الشَّىْءَ رَأْسًا وَاحِدًا
From ISK, in the article بأج.
1.7figurative · مجازI have one head of sheep or goats—عِنْدِى رَأْسُ مِنَ الغَنَمِ
a number of head of them—عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَرْؤُسٍ
and make the one head two head—وَٱجْعَلُوا الرَّأْسَ رَأْسَيْنِ
Said in a tradition of 'Omar: buy two animals with the price of one, so that when one dies the second remains. In the article فرق.
such a one ties up so many head of beasts—فُلَانٌ يَرْتَبِطُ كَذَا رَأْسًا مِنَ الدَّوَابِّ
In the article ربط.
1.8figurative · مجازgive me a head of garlic, and a clove of it—أَعْطِنِى رَأْسًا مِنْ ثُومٍ وَ سِنًّا مِنْهُ
how many cloves are there in your head of garlic?—كَمْ فِى رَأْسِكَ مِنْ سِنِّ
1.9the extremity of a thing—رَأْسٌ
Or, as some say, the end, or last part, of it.
1.10
[A head, headland, cape, or promontory.]
1.11the hilt of a sword—رِئَاسٌ
Written رِيَاسَةٌ in a copy of the A.
More correctly, this word means the pommel of the sword. It is also written رِيَاسٌ, but whether that is for رِئَاسٌ or originally with ى is doubtful.
From the first of the meanings mentioned above several others arise, which are figurative.
1.12figurative · مجاز — inferredthe two nodes of a planet—الرَّأْسُ وَالذَّنَبُ
See تِنِّينٌ.
1.13figurative · مجازI do not desire him as a رئيس, i.e. as a head or chief—مَا أُرِيدُهُ رَأْسًا
رَأْسٌ is also synonymous with رَئِيسٌ, mentioned below.
the head, or leader, of infidelity is from the direction of the place of sunrise—رَأْسُ الكُفْرِ مِنْ قِبَلِ المَشْرِقِ
Said in a tradition; it indicates that Ed-Dejjál, or some other of the heads of error, will come forth in the east.
1.14figurative · مجازthe capital, or principal, of property—رَأْسُ المَالِ
she lent me ten pieces of money as a loan the principal of which was to be repaid without interest—أَقْرَضَتْنِى عَشَرَةً بِرَؤُوسِهَا
1.15figurative · مجاز — inferredthe rhyme is the principal, or most essential, part of the verse—القَافِيَةُ الرأْسُ البَيْتِ
Said by one of the tribe of 'Okeyl to IJ.
1.16figurative · مجازthe principal part, or the beginning, of religion is fear of God—رَأْسُ الدِّينِ الخَشْيَةُ
1.17figurative · مجاز — inferredthe beginning of the month—رَأْسُ الشَّهْرِ
the beginning, or first day, of the year—رَأْسُ السَّنَةِ
1.18figurative · مجازthe beginning of the affair; the first part of it—رَأْسُ الأَمْرِ
Also رِئَاس; both are correct, as will be seen from what follows.
1.19figurative · مجازrepeat to me your speech from the beginning—أَعِدْ عَلَىَّ كَلَامَكَ مِنْ رَأْسٍ
Said by a person to one talking to him. مِنَ الرَّأْسِ is also used, but is less common, or is a vulgar phrase and not allowable.
take it from the beginning—خُذْهُ مِنْ رَأْسٍ
Also said to a person talking to one.
1.20figurative · مجاز — inferredyou are on the point of accomplishing your affair—أَنْتَ عَلَىرَأْسِ أَمْرِكَ
على رِئَاسِهِ has the same meaning; or أَنْتَ عَلَى رِئَاسِ أَمْرِكَ means you are at the beginning of your affair, and the vulgar say عَلَى رَأْسِ أَمْرِكَ.
1.21
أَضْرَعَتْ عَلَى رَأْسِ الوَلَدِ: see the article ضرع.
1.22figurative · مجازthat was in the time of such a one, in his lifetime—كَانَ ذٰلِكَ عَلَى رَأْسِ فُلَانٍ
Like the phrase عَلَى رِجْلِ فُلَانٍ; in the article رجل.
1.23figurative · مجازa numerous and strong company of people—رَأْسٌ
But J thinks he means رَئِيس, i.e. head or chief, because he says ندقّ بِهِ and not بِهِمْ.
they are a numerous and strong company of people—هُمْ رَأْسٌ
they are an army by themselves, not needing any aid—هُمْ رَأْسٌ عَظِيمٌ
'Amr Ibn-Kulthoom says, as though meaning: [With a numerous and strong company of Benoo-Jusham-Ibn-Bekr, with which we beat the plains and the rugged tracts]
shāhidبِرَأْسٍ مِنْ بَنِى جُشَمِ بْنِ بِكْرٍنَدُقُّ بِهِ السُّهُولَةَ وَالحُزُونَا
Qur’ānic occurrences رَأْس 5 shown of 17
14:43
مُهْطِعِينَ مُقْنِعِى رُءُوسِهِمْ لَا يَرْتَدُّ إِلَيْهِمْ طَرْفُهُمْ ۖ وَأَفْـِٔدَتُهُمْ هَوَآءٌThey running forward with necks outstretched, their heads uplifted, their gaze returning not towards them, and their hearts a (gaping) void!
19:4
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى وَهَنَ ٱلْعَظْمُ مِنِّى وَٱشْتَعَلَ ٱلرَّأْسُ شَيْبًا وَلَمْ أَكُنۢ بِدُعَآئِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيًّاPraying: "O my Lord! infirm indeed are my bones, and the hair of my head doth glisten with grey: but never am I unblest, O my Lord, in my prayer to Thee!
21:65
ثُمَّ نُكِسُوا۟ عَلَىٰ رُءُوسِهِمْ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ يَنطِقُونَThen were they confounded with shame: (they said), "Thou knowest full well that these (idols) do not speak!"
37:65
طَلْعُهَا كَأَنَّهُۥ رُءُوسُ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينِThe shoots of its fruit-stalks are like the heads of devils:
44:48
ثُمَّ صُبُّوا۟ فَوْقَ رَأْسِهِۦ مِنْ عَذَابِ ٱلْحَمِيمِ"Then pour over his head the Penalty of Boiling Water,
Occurrences of this form in the Qur’ān, not Lane’s choice of verse. They show the word in use; they do not say which sense above applies. Where more occur than are shown, the shortest āyāt are chosen.
Show Lane's original text
, (S, M, A, Msb, K,) generally with ء , except in the dial. of Benoo-Temeem, who constantly suppress the ء , (Msb,) [The head of a man and of any animal;] a certain part of an animal, (Msb,) well known: (Msb, K:) masc., (Msb, TA,) by common consent: (TA:) and (K) the highest or uppermost part, or top, or summit, (M, A, K,) of a thing, (M,) or of anything; (A, K;) as, for instance, of a mountain, &c.; (the Lexicons, passim;) and the upper, or uppermost, part of a valley: (TA: see رَائِسٌ :) pl. (of pauc., S, TA) أَرْؤُسٌ , (S, M, Msb, K,) and, by transposition, آرُسٌ , (M, TA, * [originally أَأْرُسٌ , in the L, erroneously, أٓاراس ,]) and (of mult., S, TA) رُؤُوسُ , (S, M, Msb, K, [by some carelessly written رُؤُسٌ , and by some, allowably, رُؤُٓسٌ ,]) which is not transposed, and رُوْسٌ , which is elliptical. (M, TA.) A poet uses the pl. for the dual, saying, 1 [The heads of the two great ones, or old ones, of them, smite each other with their horns]. (M.) رُؤُوسُ كَبِيرَيْهِنَّ يَنْتَطِحَانِ أُمُّ الرَّأْسِ : see أُمٌّ . يَوْمُ الرُّؤُوسِ [The day of the heads] is applied by the people of Mekkeh to the day called يَوْمُ القَرِّ , because then they eat the heads of the animals sacrificed. (A, TA.) أَصَابَ رَأْسَهُ He kissed his head: a metonymical phrase. (TA.) رُمِىَ فُلَانٌ مِنْهُ فِى الرَّأْسِ [lit., Such a one was shot by him in the head; meaning,] he turned away from him, and did not look towards him nor pay any regard or attention to him, and deemed him troublesome. (S, TA.) You say also, رُمِيتُ مِنْكَ فِى الرَّأْسِ , meaning, Thou hast an evil opinion of me (S, K) so that thou canst not look towards me. (S.) رَكِبَ رَأْسَهُ : see art. ركب . وَلَدَتْ وَلَدَهَا عَلَى رَأْسٍ وَاحِدٍ She brought forth her children one after, or near after, another. (IAar, M.) In like manner you say, وُلِدَ لَهُ ثَلَاثَةُ أَوْلَادٍ رَأْسًا عَلَى إِثْرِ رَأْسٍ , (M,) or رَأْسًا عَلَى رَأْسٍ , (TA,) He had three children born to him one after, or near after, another. (M, TA.) And اِجْعَلْ هٰذَا الشَّىْءَ رَأْسًا وَاحِدًا Make thou this thing to be [uniform, or] of one way, or mode, or manner. (ISK, TA in art. بأج .) عِنْدِى رَأْسُ مِنَ الغَنَمِ [I have one head of sheep or goats]: and عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَرْؤُسٍ [a number of head thereof]. (A, TA.) It is said in a trad. of' Omar, وَٱجْعَلُوا الرَّأْسَ رَأْسَيْنِ And make ye the one head two head, by buying two animals with the price of one, that, when one dies, the second may remain. (Mgh in art. فرق .) And you say, فُلَانٌ يَرْتَبِطُ كَذَا رَأْسًا مِنَ الدَّوَابِّ [Such a one ties so many head of beasts]. (S in art. ربط .) أَعْطِنِى رَأْسًا مِنْ ثُومٍ وَ سِنًّا مِنْهُ [Give thou to me a head of garlic, and a clove thereof]: and كَمْ فِى رَأْسِكَ مِنْ سِنِّ [How many cloves are there in thy head of garlic?]. (A, TA.) رَأْسٌ also signifies The extremity of a thing: or, as some say, the end, or last, thereof. (MF. TA.) [A head, head-land, cape, or promontory.] The hilt of a sword; (A;) and so رِئَاسٌ ; (S, M, K; [in a copy of the A رِيَاسَةٌ ;]) or this signifies its pommel, (Sgh, K,) more correctly; (Sgh;) and is also written رِيَاسٌ , but whether for رِئَاسٌ or originally with ى is doubtful. (M.) [From the first of the above-mentioned significations arise several others, which are tropical. Hence, الرَّأْسُ وَالذَّنَبُ The two nodes of a planet: see تِنِّينٌ . Hence likewise,] رَأْسٌ is also syn. with رَئِيسٌ , q. v. infrà. (M, K.) You say, مَا أُرِيدُهُ رَأْسًا [I do not desire him as a رئيس , i. e. head, chief, &c.]. (A.) And it is said in a trad., رَأْسُ الكُفْرِ مِنْ قِبَلِ المَشْرِقِ [The head, or leader, of infidelity is from the direction of the place of sunrise]: indicating that Ed-Dejjál or some other of the heads of error will come forth in the east. (TA.) رَأْسُ المَالِ The capital, or principal, of property. (Msb, K.) [Hence the saying,] أَقْرَضَتْنِى عَشَرَةً بِرَؤُوسِهَا She lent me ten [pieces of money] as a loan whereof the principal was to be repaid without interest. (Mgh, TA. *) القَافِيَةُ الرأْسُ البَيْتِ [The rhyme is the principal, or most essential, part of the verse]: said by one of the tribe of' Okeyl, to IJ. (M.) رَأْسُ الدِّينِ الخَشْيَةُ [The principal part, or the beginning, of religion is fear of God]. (A, TA.) رَأْسُ الشَّهْرِ The beginning of the month. (Msb.) [And in like manner, رَأْسُ السَّنَةِ The beginning, or first day, of the year.] رَأْسُ الأَمْرِ , (K, TA,) or رِئَاس , (so in the CK,) [both correct, as will be seen from what follows,] The beginning of the affair; the first thereof. (K, TA.) أَعِدْ عَلَىَّ كَلَامَكَ مِنْ رَأْسٍ , (S, M,) and مِنَ الرَّأْسِ , but this is less common, (M,) or is a vulgar phrase, not allowable, (S,) [Repeat thou to me thy speech from the beginning:] said by a person to one talking to him. (TA.) One also says to a person talking to him, خُذْهُ مِنْ رَأْسٍ [Take thou it from the beginning]. (A.) أَنْتَ عَلَىرَأْسِ أَمْرِكَ , and على رِئَاسِهِ Thou art on the point of accomplishing thine affair: (M, TA:) or أَنْتَ عَلَى رِئَاسِ أَمْرِكَ signifies thou art at the beginning of thine affair; and the vulgar say, عَلَى رَأْسِ أَمْرِكَ (S, TA.) أَضْرَعَتْ عَلَى رَأْسِ الوَلَدِ : see art. ضرع . كَانَ ذٰلِكَ عَلَى رَأْسِ فُلَانٍ That was in the time of such a one; in his life-time: like the phrase عَلَى رِجْلِ فُلَانٍ . (TA in art. رجل .) رَأْسٌ also signifies A numerous and strong company of people. (As, S, M, K.) You say, هُمْ رَأْسٌ They are a numerous and strong company of people. (S.) And هُمْ رَأْسٌ عَظِيمٌ They are an army by themselves, not needing any aid. (A, TA.) 'Amr Ibn-Kulthoom says, (S,) 1 [as though meaning, With a numerous and strong company of Benoo-Jusham-Ibn-Bekr, with which we beat the plains and the rugged tracts]: (S, M:) but [J says,] I think that he means رَئِيس , [i. e. head, chief, &c.,] because he says ندقّ بِهِ , not بِهِمْ (S.) بِرَأْسٍ مِنْ بَنِى جُشَمِ بْنِ بِكْرٍ | نَدُقُّ بِهِ السُّهُولَةَ وَالحُزُونَا