dewan

or di·wan

[ dih-wahn, -wawn ]

/ dɪˈwɑn, -ˈwɔn /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dewan ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

(in India) any of certain officials, as a financial minister or prime minister of a native colony.

Nearby words

dew pond, dew snail, dew-point spread, dew-worm, dewali, dewan, dewar, dewar flask, dewar vessel, dewater, dewberry

Origin of dewan

1680–90; < Hindi: minister (of state) < Persian dēvan register; see divan¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dewan

By this lucky chance the dewan earned his reward from the Raja.
Folklore of the Santal Parganas|Cecil Henry Bompas
So the dewan presented himself before the Raja with the dumb shepherd and found a large company assembled to see what happened.
Folklore of the Santal Parganas|Cecil Henry Bompas
The Dewan had always opposed it, but now he suddenly veered round and suggested that it should be done.
The Elephant God|Gordon Casserly
In his address of 1884 the Dewan says that "the condition of the Province is again causing grave anxiety."
Gold, Sport, And Coffee Planting In Mysore|Robert H. Elliot

The Dewan shall confer with you, and let you know my pleasure.
Athelstane Ford|Allen Upward

British Dictionary definitions for dewan

dewan

diwan

/ (dɪˈwɑːn) /

noun

(formerly in India) the chief minister or finance minister of a state ruled by an Indian prince

Word Origin for dewan

C17: from Hindi dīwān, from Persian dēvan register, book of accounts; see divan

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