effendi
Americannoun
plural
effendis-
a former Turkish title of respect, especially for government officials.
-
(in eastern Mediterranean countries) a man who is a member of the aristocracy.
noun
-
(in the Ottoman Empire) a title of respect used to address men of learning or social standing
-
(in Turkey since 1934) the oral title of address equivalent to Mr
Etymology
Origin of effendi
1605–15; < Turkish efendi < Modern Greek, Greek authentḗs doer, master. See authentic
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.
He abolished all titles such as pasha and effendi.
From Time Magazine Archive
![]()
But Joe is telling it the way it really is, effendi.
From Time Magazine Archive
![]()
Parts of the effendi class like to listen to Axis promises of advancement and power.
From Time Magazine Archive
![]()
This youth, effendi, that came to me that unlucky day—woe is me that I should call him nephew!
From Carry On! A Story of the Fight for Bagdad by Strang, Herbert
The effendi immediately sank back into the corner of the carriage with a look of terror upon his face which indicated clearly enough that the surmise had been correct.
From Burning Sands by Weigal, Arthur
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.