bismillah

American  

[bis-mil-uh] / bɪsˈmɪl ə /

interjection

Arabic.

1. in the name of Allah.

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Bismillah British  

/ ˌbɪsmɪˈlaː /

interjection

1. the words which preface all except one of the surahs of the Koran, used by Muslims as a blessing before eating or some other action

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Etymology

Origin of Bismillah

shortened from Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim , from Arabic, literally: in the name of God, the merciful and compassionate

Example Sentences

And now, that the doors, by virtue of our Scribe’s open-sesames, are thrown open, we enter, bismillah.

From The Book of Khalid by Rihani, Ameen Fares

In obedience to his orders the headman brings out a carpet and spreads it beneath the shadow of the wall, and pointing to it, says, "Sahib, bismillah!"

From Around the World on a Bicycle - Volume II From Teheran To Yokohama by Stevens, Thomas

Ferocity was in his heart, a vitriolic note was in his voice as he said to David, "If this be true— the army rotten, the officers disloyal, treachery under every tunic— bismillah, speak!"

From The Weavers: a tale of England and Egypt of fifty years ago - Volume 2 by Parker, Gilbert