Arabic word sheet
تَوَلَّى
To turn away
- Type
- verb
- Root
- و ل ي
Meaning and usage
To turn away
To turn to another side and move off from someone or something. Said of a person who leaves as well as of one who refuses to listen.
تَوَلَّى الرَّجُلُ عَنِ الْبَابِ.
The man turned away from the door.
To take charge of
To take a matter, a task or an office upon oneself and answer for it.
تَوَلَّى سَامِي إِدَارَةَ الْمَدْرَسَةِ.
Sami took charge of running the school.
Word family
What the root means و ل ي
The root is about being right next to a thing and having charge of it. From it come the authority one holds, taking a matter upon oneself, and also turning one's back to walk away.
to be in charge of, to govern
وَلِيَ
authority, the office of governing
وِلَايَةٌ
Synonyms
to turn aside
أَعْرَضَ
Stresses refusing to pay attention, without necessarily walking away.
to turn one's back, to go off
أَدْبَرَ
Only means going off with one's back turned, and is never used of taking on a charge.
Opposites
to come towards
أَقْبَلَ