caliph
Americannoun
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a spiritual leader of Islam, claiming succession from Muhammad.
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any of the former Muslim rulers of Baghdad (until 1258) and of the Ottoman Empire (from 1571 until 1924).
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of caliph
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”
Explanation
A caliph is a religious and civil leader in a Muslim country. If you become a diplomat in the Middle East, you might have many discussions with caliphs. Caliph comes from the Arabic word khalafa, meaning "successor" or "next in line." It was taken as a title by Abu-bekr, the first Islamic leader after the death of Mohammed, the prophet who founded the religion of Islam. All great Islamic leaders take the title caliph. Because caliph is an Anglicized version of an Arabic word, from a different alphabet, there are many spelling variations including calif, kalif, kaliph, khalif, and khalifah.
Vocabulary lists containing caliph
English Words Derived from Arabic
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World Religions
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Medieval Europe - Middle School
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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.
CALIPH: Tell me, good man, what brought you here?
From The Child's World Third Reader by Hetty Browne, Sarah Withers, W.K. Tate
CALIPH: True enough, but who ever thought of saying that a pack saddle is a part of a load of wood?
From The Child's World Third Reader by Hetty Browne, Sarah Withers, W.K. Tate
CALIPH: Why did you refuse to shave this man's companion?
From The Child's World Third Reader by Hetty Browne, Sarah Withers, W.K. Tate
CALIPH: Now, my honest woodcutter, here is a purse of gold for you.
From The Child's World Third Reader by Hetty Browne, Sarah Withers, W.K. Tate
CALIPH: Well, my friend, did you do as I told you?
From The Child's World Third Reader by Hetty Browne, Sarah Withers, W.K. Tate
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
