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adat

American  
[ah-daht] / ˈɑ dɑt /

noun

  1. the traditional law of Indonesia and Malaysia.


Etymology

Origin of adat

First recorded in 1780–90; from Javanese, from Arabic ʿadālah “(court of) equity”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The republic is now governed by diktats inspired by Sharia jurisprudence and Kadyrov’s personal interpretation of adat, a traditional Chechen code of behavior.

From The New Yorker • Feb. 8, 2016

“What he has achieved is that we have returned to our roots: in religion, adat, culture.”

From The New Yorker • Feb. 8, 2016

Exposed to unwanted foreign magic, visitors were once exorcized by the kepala adat before being allowed inside.

From Time Magazine Archive

In this phrase the word dad corresponds to the modern Musalman shariyat and the word ain to adat.

From Iranian Influence on Moslem Literature, Part I by Nariman, G. K. (Gushtaspshah Kaikhushro)

If a younger sister be first married, the husband pays six dollars, adat pelalu, for passing over the elder.

From The History of Sumatra Containing An Account Of The Government, Laws, Customs And Manners Of The Native Inhabitants by Marsden, William