emir

American  

[uh-meer, ey-meer, ey-meer] / əˈmɪər, eɪˈmɪər, ˈeɪ mɪər /

Also ameer, or amir

noun

1. a chieftain, prince, commander, or head of state in some Islamic countries.

2. a title of honor of the descendants of Muhammad.

3. (initial capital letter) the former title of the ruler of Afghanistan.

4. a title of certain Turkish officials.

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emir British  

/ ɛˈmɪə /

noun

1. an independent ruler or chieftain

2. a military commander or governor

3. a descendant of Mohammed

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Etymology

Origin of emir

First recorded in 1625–35; from Arabic ʾamīr “commander, prince,” from ʾamara “to command, order”

Example Sentences

He says each wing of the prison has an emir, or leader, who issues fatwas - rulings on points of Islamic law.

From BBC

“It’s not like al Qaeda or ISIS, where you have a command or an emir in charge giving orders,” Hoffman said.

From Los Angeles Times

As Irish hotelier Patrick McKillen tells it, he met the former emir of Qatar on a yacht in Doha to discuss a business opportunity in California, more than 8,000 miles away.

From Los Angeles Times

She is expected to be at the farewells to the emir on Wednesday.

From BBC

Biden spoke Monday with the emir of Qatar — whose country, along with Egypt, has played a major role in trying to negotiate a truce and persuade Hamas to accept one.

From Seattle Times