Aqdah

Aqdah (Arabic: عقدة) is a feminine noun in Arabic, derived from the triliteral root ع-ق-د, which carries the core idea of binding, tying, or fastening. The word’s primary literal senses include knot, loop, or tangle in a rope, thread, or cord. Beyond its physical sense, عقدة also refers to a binding or constriction more generally, such as a knot in a chain or an obstacle that makes progress difficult. In figurative use, it can denote a problem or snag that hinders action.

The semantic family centers on binding and complexity. The masculine noun عقد (ʿaqd) covers knot or contract in its own right, while the feminine عقدة designates either the knot itself or a figurative blockage. The passive participle معقود (maʿqūd) means bound or concluded. In modern usage, عقدة often appears in psychological or literary contexts to express a “complex,” such as عقدة النقص (the inferiority complex), or a long-standing difficulty in a situation.

In everyday Arabic, عقدة appears in both physical and metaphorical contexts. It can describe a literal knot in a rope or thread (for example, عقدة في الخيط), as well as mental, emotional, or social problems. The term is common in classical and contemporary prose, poetry, and psychological vocabulary, where it conveys both tangible entanglement and abstract obstacle or complication.

See also: knot, complex, contract (related but distinct term عقد).