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
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.
The pyramid was sealed until 820, when the Muslim leader Caliph al-Ma’mun broke it open on one side.
From NewsForKids.net • Mar. 15, 2023
Charlemagne ruled an empire covering almost all of continental Europe, was crowned Roman emperor in Rome by the pope, and traded emissaries with the Byzantine ruler in Constantinople and the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad.
From Salon • Jan. 6, 2022
The political independence of the Caliphate ended in 945 when it was conquered by Persian tribes-men, who took control of secular power while keeping the Caliph alive as a figurehead.
From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2019
More than that, The Caliph, for nearly six decades, bore witness to the evolution of the gay rights movement — its highs and its lows.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 30, 2018
‘Only my uncle, Caliph Haroun al Rashid,’ the Sultan said.
From "The BFG" by Roald Dahl
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.
