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effendi

[ih-fen-dee]
noun, plural ef·fen·dis.
  1. a former Turkish title of respect, especially for government officials.
  2. (in eastern Mediterranean countries) a man who is a member of the aristocracy.
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Origin of effendi

1605–15; < Turkish efendi < Modern Greek, Greek authentḗs doer, master. See authentic
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for effendi

Historical Examples of effendi

  • They were of the "Effendi class," and might be merchants or professional persons.

    It Happened in Egypt

    C. N. Williamson

  • The effendi was delighted when he found that the letter was for himself.

    The Memoires of Casanova, Complete

    Jacques Casanova de Seingalt

  • An Effendi took the watch yesterday to show it to Vartan, the jeweler.

    Paul Patoff

    F. Marion Crawford

  • I will not tell you his name, nor the name of the Effendi to whose harem he belongs.

    Paul Patoff

    F. Marion Crawford

  • "Everything that you have ordered has been done, Effendi," he said humbly.

British Dictionary definitions for effendi

effendi

noun plural -dis
  1. (in the Ottoman Empire) a title of respect used to address men of learning or social standing
  2. (in Turkey since 1934) the oral title of address equivalent to Mr
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Word Origin for effendi

C17: from Turkish efendi master, from Modern Greek aphentēs, from Greek authentēs lord, doer; see authentic
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

Word Origin and History for effendi

n.

Turkish title of respect, 1610s, from Turkish efendi, title of respect applied to professionals and officials, corruption of Greek authentes "lord, master" (in Modern Greek aphente; see authentic).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper