ayatollah
[ ah-yuh-toh-luh ]
/ ˌɑ yəˈtoʊ lə /
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noun
(among Shiʿites) a title in the religious hierarchy achieved by scholars who have demonstrated highly advanced knowledge of Islamic law and religion.
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Origin of ayatollah
1975–80; <Persian <Arabic āyat allāh sign of God; cf. Allah
Words nearby ayatollah
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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British Dictionary definitions for ayatollah
ayatollah
/ (ˌaɪəˈtɒlə) /
noun
one of a class of Iranian Shiite religious leaders
Word Origin for ayatollah
via Persian from Arabic, from aya sign + Allah god
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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