muḍāriʿـَيَفْعَلُmaṣdarضَحِكٌ
Core sense — he laughed; he wondered; the clouds lightenedgenerated
1.1he laughed—ضَحِكَ
Some say ضِحِكْتُ, with kesr to the ض, to agree with the vowel of the ح, because the latter is a faucial letter; this is a correct dialectal variant, and similar instances are mentioned. ضَحَكَ is also said to be a well-known dialectal variant.
maṣdar ضَحِكٌ, ضِحْكٌ and ضَحْكٌ, the first being the best form [the second and third being contractions of it], and ضِحِكٌ; and if you said ضَحَكٌ it would agree with analogy.
Opposite of بَكَى. See also form 6.
الضَّحِكُ is well known as meaning the expanding of the face and the showing of the teeth from happiness, joy, or gladness, and التَّبَسُّمُ is the beginning of that: so in the Towsheeh and other works, and likewise in the Mufradāt of Er-Rāghib, where it is added that it is also used as meaning simply being happy, joyful, or glad, and sometimes simply wondering at a thing; and this last is the meaning intended by anyone who says that it is peculiar to man.
he wondered—ضَحِكَ
Said of a man. Synonym عَجِبَ, with مِنْ placed before the object of wonder. Or: he was frightened, or he feared.
he laughed at him, he derided him—ضَحِكَ مِنْهُ
he laughed at him, he derided him—بِهِ
[He behaved laughingly, or cheerfully, towards him]—ضَحِكَ إِلَيْهِ
IDrd, and the K in the article بش. [See بَشَّ لَهُ.]
1.1.1he displays his teeth, he grins—يَضْحَكُ
Said of an ape: he uttered a cry or cries; or this is said of the ape when he utters a cry or cries.
1.1.2figurative · مجازthe clouds lightened—ضَحِكَ السَّحَابُ
Hence the use of the verb in a tradition cited under تَحَدَّثَ.
1.1.3figurative · مجاز[The pool of water left by a torrent] glistened because it was full—ضَحِكَ الغَدِيرُ
1.1.4figurative · مجاز — inferredhis front teeth, or his teeth, glistened because of his laughing—ضَحِكَ ثَغْرُهُ
That is, he laughed so as to show his front teeth, or his teeth.
1.1.5figurative · مجازthe flowers looked gay, as though they were laughing—ضَحِكَ الزَّهْرُ
the earth, or land, put forth its plants, or herbage, and its flowers—ضَحِكَتِ الأَرْضُ
the meadows, or gardens, displayed the flowers—ضَحِكَتِ الرِّيَاضُ عَنِ الأَزْهَارِ
1.1.6figurative · مجازthe palm-tree put forth [or disclosed] its ضَحْك—ضَحِكَتِ النَّخْلَةُ
the spathe of the palm-tree that covered the طَلْع [or spadix] burst open—أَضْحَكَت
the طلع split, or clave, open—ضَحِكَ الطَّلْعُ
So Skr.
This word here apparently means the spathe of the palm-tree; and so also تَبَسَّمَ.
1.1.7figurative · مجاز — inferredshe menstruated—ضَحِكَتْ
Or, as others say: the hyena snarls, displaying her teeth, and sees the wolf raising his voice, calling the other wolves to them, that is, to the slain. Abu-l-'Abbás says the meaning is that the hyena displays her teeth because the wolf contends with her over the slain. Some say the poet means that the hyena rejoices because of the slain.
Said of a hare, as some assert; according to some, from the ضَحَّاك [meaning the interior] of the طَلْعَة [of the palm-tree] when it bursts open.
Hence it is said in this sense of a woman also, according to Mujáhid and some others, in the Qur'ān 11:74, where some read فَضَحَكَتْ, which is said to be a well-known dialectal variant.
According to some it is likewise said in this sense of the hyena, when she sees blood, or, as IAar says, when she eats the flesh of men and drinks their blood. [The Arabs commonly assert that] the hare menstruates as women do.
As for this meaning in the Qur'ān 11:74, Fr says he had not heard it from anyone deserving of confidence, and Zj says it is worthless; both say the meaning there is that she laughed out of happiness.
Some say there is an inversion here, what is meant being فَبَشَّرْنَاهَا بِإِسْحٰقَ فَضَحِكَتْ. Or the meaning is: she wondered — so says I'Ab. Er-Rāghib says the same, adding that it is confirmed by her saying, "shall I bring forth a child when I am an old woman, and this my husband is an old man? this is indeed a wonderful thing"; and that فَحَاضَتْ, which some of the expositors insert after فَضَحِكَتْ, is not an explanation of this expression, as some of them have imagined, but is the mention of [a fact which was] a sign that the announcement was not of an improbable event. Or the meaning is: she was frightened — so says Fr.
The meaning of this verb when said of the hyena, mentioned above, is rejected by AHát and others.
IDrd says, on the authority of AHát, about the following verse of Taäbbata-Sharrà: [The hyena displays her teeth, or grins, over the slain of Hudheyl, when she sees them]
shāhidتَضْحَكُ الضَّبْعُ لِقَتْلَى هُذَيْلٍوَتَرَى الذِّئْبَ لَهَا يَسْتَهِلُّ
— like what they say of the ass when he plucks out the plant called صِلِّيَانَة.
Qur’ān 11:72 approximate — somewhere between 11:44 and 11:82 Lane cites “Kur xi. 74”
Qur’ān 11:72 approximate — somewhere between 11:44 and 11:82 Lane cites “Kur xi. 74”
Qur’ān 11:71 located by this root inside the range Lane’s citation allows
وَٱمْرَأَتُهُۥ قَآئِمَةٌ فَضَحِكَتْ فَبَشَّرْنَـٰهَا بِإِسْحَـٰقَ وَمِن وَرَآءِ إِسْحَـٰقَ يَعْقُوبَAnd his wife was standing (there), and she laughed: But we gave her glad tidings of Isaac, and after him, of Jacob.Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur’ān (1934)
1.1.8figurative · مجاز — inferredthe سمرة [or gum-acacia-tree] flowed with its gum—ضَحِكَتِ السَّمُرَةُ
From ضحكت, meaning "she menstruated".
Lane cites “Bd in xi. 74” — a commentary, not the verse; no modern number is given
Qur’ānic occurrences Form 1 5 shown of 7
9:82
فَلْيَضْحَكُوا۟ قَلِيلًا وَلْيَبْكُوا۟ كَثِيرًا جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَLet them laugh a little: much will they weep: a recompense for the (evil) that they do.
43:47
فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُم بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ إِذَا هُم مِّنْهَا يَضْحَكُونَBut when he came to them with Our Signs, behold they ridiculed them.
53:60
وَتَضْحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبْكُونَAnd will ye laugh and not weep,-
83:29
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أَجْرَمُوا۟ كَانُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ يَضْحَكُونَThose in sin used to laugh at those who believed,
83:34
فَٱلْيَوْمَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلْكُفَّارِ يَضْحَكُونَBut on this Day the Believers will laugh at the Unbelievers:
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, MA, O, Msb, K, &c.,) and some say ضِحِكْتُ , with kesr to the ض , (TA, as from the K, [but not in the CK nor in my MS. copy of the K,]) to agree with the vowel of the ح because the latter is a faucial letter, and this is a correct dial. var. of which similar instances are mentioned, and ضَحَكَ also is said to be a well known dial. var. of ضَحِكَ , (TA,) aor. ضَحَكَ , (S. O,) inf. n. ضَحِكٌ and ضِحْكٌ (S, MA, O, Msb, K, KL) and ضَحْكٌ , (S, MA, O, K, KL,) the first of which is the superior form, (IDrd, O,) [the second and third being contractions thereof,] and ضِحِكٌ , (S, O, K, KL,) and if you said ضَحَكٌ it would be agreeable with analogy, (Az, TA,) He laughed; (MA, KL, PS, TK;) contr. of بَكَى : (TK:) [see also 6:] الضَّحِكُ is well known, as meaning the expanding of the face, and displaying of the teeth, by reason of happiness, joy, or gladness; and التَّبَسُّمُ is the beginning thereof: thus in the Towsheeh and other works: (MF, TA:) and in like manner in the Mufradát [of Er-Rághib]; in which it is added that it is also used as meaning simply the being happy, joyful, or glad: and sometimes as meaning simply the wondering [at a thing]; and this is the meaning intended by him who says that it is peculiar to man: (TA:) [i. e.] ضَحِكَ , said of a man, signifies also he wondered; syn. عَجِبَ ; (O, K, TA;) with مِنْ preposed to the object of wonder: (TA:) or he was frightened; or he feared. (K, TA.) You say, ضَحِكَ مِنْهُ and بِهِ , both meaning the same, (S, O, Msb,) i. e. He laughed at him; derided him; or ridiculed him: or he wondered at him. (Msb.) And ضَحِكَ إِلَيْهِ [He behaved laughingly, or cheerfully, towards him]. (IDrd and K in art. بش [See بَشَّ لَهُ .]) Said of an ape, He uttered a cry or cries: (K:) or one says of the ape when he utters a cry or cries, يَضْحَكُ , (S, TA,) meaning he displays his teeth, or grins. (TA.) And ضَحِكَ السَّحَابُ The clouds lightened. (S, O, K, TA.) Hence the usage of the verb in a trad. cited voce تَحَدَّثَ . (O, TA.) And ضَحِكَ الغَدِيرُ i. e. [The pool of water left by a torrent] glistened by reason of its fulness. (TA.) [And ضَحِكَ ثَغْرُهُ His front teeth, or his teeth, glistened by reason of his laughing; meaning he laughed so as to show his front teeth, or his teeth.] And ضَحِكَ الزَّهْرُ The flowers [looked gay, or] were as though they were laughing. (TA.) And ضَحِكَتِ الأَرْضُ The earth, or land, put forth its plants, or herbage, and its flowers. (TA.) And ضَحِكَتِ الرِّيَاضُ عَنِ الأَزْهَارِ The meadows, or gardens, displayed the flowers. (TA.) And ضَحِكَتِ النَّخْلَةُ The palm-tree put forth [or disclosed] its ضَحْك ; as also أَضْحَكَت ; (TA;) [i. e.] the spathe of the palm-tree, (Skr, O, TA,) that covered the طَلْع [or spadix], (O,) burst open. (Skr, O, TA.) And ضَحِكَ الطَّلْعُ The طلع [here app. meaning the spathe of the palm-tree] split, or clave, open; and so تَبَسَّمَ . (TA.) And, as some assert, (ISd, TA,) ضَحِكَتْ signifies also She menstruated; said of a hare; (ISd, Z, O, Msb, TA;) accord. to some, from the ضَحَّاك [meaning the interior] of the طَلْعَة [of the palm-tree] when it bursts open; (ISd, TA;) and hence, (K, TA,) said also in this sense of a woman, (O, Msb, K, TA,) accord. to Mujáhid, (O, TA,) and some others, (TA,) in the Kur xi. 74, (O, K, TA,) where some read فَضَحَكَتْ , which is said to be a well-known dial. var.; (TA;) and likewise, accord. to some, said in this sense of the hyena, (O, TA,) when she sees blood, or as IAar says, when she eats the flesh of men and drinks their blood: (TA:) [it is commonly asserted by the Arabs that] the hare menstruates like women: (Kzw:) but with respect to this meaning as assigned to the verb in the Kur xi. 74, Fr says that he had not heard it from any person deserving of confidence; (O, TA; *) and Zj says that it is nought: both say that the meaning there is, she laughed by reason of happiness: (TA:) and some say that there is an inversion in this case, what is meant being فَبَشَّرْنَاهَا بِإِسْحٰقَ فَضَحِكَتْ : (Fr, O, TA:) or the meaning is, she wondered; so says I'Ab; and so Er-Rághib, who adds that it is confirmed by her saying, “ shall I bring forth a child when I am an old woman, and this my husband is an old man? verily this is indeed a wonderful thing: ” and that فَحَاضَتْ which is inserted by some of the expositors after فَضَحِكَتْ is not an explanation of this expression, as some of them have imagined it to be, but is the mention of [a fact which was] a sign that the announcement was not that of an event improbable: or the meaning is, she was frightened; so says Fr.: (TA:) and with respect to the meaning of this verb when said of the hyena, mentioned above, it is rejected by AHát and others: (TA:) IDrd says, on the authority of AHát, respecting the following verse of TaäbbataSharrà, 1 that the meaning is The hyena displays her teeth, or grins, on account of the slain [of Hudheyl], when she sees them, like as they say of the ass when he plucks out the [plant called] صِلِّيَانَة ; (O, TA;) or, as others say, the hyena snarls, displaying her teeth; and sees the wolf raising his voice in calling the [other] wolves to them, i. e. to the slain: (O, TA:*) Abu-l-' Abbás says that the meaning is, the hyena displays her teeth, because the wolf contends with her over the slain: and some say that the poet means, the hyena rejoices because of the slain. (TA.) تَضْحَكُ الضَّبْعُ لِقَتْلَى هُذَيْلٍ | وَتَرَى الذِّئْبَ لَهَا يَسْتَهِلُّ One says also, ضَحِكَتِ السَّمُرَةُ , meaning The سمرة [or gum-acacia-tree] flowed with its gum: from ضحكت meaning “ she menstruated. ” (Bd in xi. 74.)