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dervish

[ dur-vish ]
/ ˈdɜr vɪʃ /

noun

a member of any of various Muslim ascetic orders, as the Sufis, some of which carry on ecstatic observances, such as energetic dancing and whirling or vociferous chanting or shouting.

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Origin of dervish

1575–85; <Turkish <Persian darvīsh poor man, beggar

Words nearby dervish

derris, derro, derry, dertrum, derv, dervish, Derwent, Derwentwater, Derzhavin, des, desacralize
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for dervish

British Dictionary definitions for dervish

dervish
/ (ˈdɜːvɪʃ) /

noun

a member of any of various Muslim orders of ascetics, some of which (whirling dervishes) are noted for a frenzied, ecstatic, whirling dance

Derived forms of dervish

dervish-like, adjective

Word Origin for dervish

C16: from Turkish: beggar, from Persian darvīsh mendicant monk
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