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View synonyms for caliph

caliph

or ca·lif

[ key-lif, kal-if ]

noun

  1. a spiritual leader of Islam, claiming succession from Muhammad.
  2. any of the former Muslim rulers of Baghdad (until 1258) and of the Ottoman Empire (from 1571 until 1924).


caliph

/ ˈkæl-; ˈkeɪlɪf /

noun

  1. Islam the title of the successors of Mohammed as rulers of the Islamic world, later assumed by the Sultans of Turkey
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Other Words From

  • cal·iph·al [kal, -, uh, -f, uh, l, key, -l, uh, -], adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of caliph1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English caliphe, califfe, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin calipha, from Arabic khalīf(a) “successor (of Muhammad),” derivative of khalafa “succeed”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of caliph1

C14: from Old French, from Arabic khalīfa successor
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Example Sentences

One of Al-Nayrīzī’s treatises for the caliph discussed how to determine the distance to upright objects.

When ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the False Caliph of Raqqa, announced the creation of the Islamic State, he was declaring war not only against the United States and its allies, but also against al Qaeda and the Taliban.

Already in 2012, people were living as if Baghdadi was the caliph.

From Time

“This is my advice to you,” said the self-proclaimed caliph.

The Caliph is just playing a role for his time,” says Abu Mustafa, “then we will be done with him.

The new Caliph, “Ibrahim,” thoroughly looks the part of a super-villain, and his initial statements exactly fit the bill.

Baghdad officials claimed the self-proclaimed caliph was wounded in an air strike days earlier.

He became the astronomer and physician of the Caliph Motadhid.

I went immediately to wait upon the caliph, and gave him an account of my embassy.

A similar temper was diffused among the subjects of the caliph.

The word Caliph means the vicar or the successor of the Prophet.

If they prefer to continue to recognize the Sultan as Caliph, they should be free to do so.

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caliper rulecaliphate