emir
or e·meer, a·mir, a·meer
[uh-meer, ey-meer, ey-meer]
- a chieftain, prince, commander, or head of state in some Islamic countries.
- a title of honor of the descendants of Muhammad.
- (initial capital letter) the former title of the ruler of Afghanistan.
- a title of certain Turkish officials.
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Origin of emir
First recorded in 1615–25, emir is from the Arabic word amīr commander
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for emir
Contemporary Examples
He adds: “None of the fighters will dare touch it, if an emir has given permission.”
Also imprisoned with the boys: a Libyan member of ISIS who apparently had gotten into a dispute with the emir.
The next day they met a local ISIS official, or emir: a Saudi man who introduced himself as Abu Musa.
The emir often receives household heads asking him to let their sons leave ISIS and apparently he often responds positively.
Her name is Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned, and she was until recently the wife of the emir of Qatar.
Historical Examples
They were the messengers and the troops of the Emir of Mecca.
Is your house more secure than the convent of the patriarch, or the palace of the emir?
Fox's Book of MartyrsJohn Foxe
The emir A. came and conversed a length of time on the case of Shidiak.
Fox's Book of MartyrsJohn Foxe
They treat their advance as a matter which only concerns the Emir and with which we have nothing to do.
The Coming Conquest of EnglandAugust Niemann
The horseman was the young Emir who was a guest the night before in the divan of Besso.
TancredBenjamin Disraeli
emir
- an independent ruler or chieftain
- a military commander or governor
- a descendant of Mohammed
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Also spelt: amir
Word Origin
C17: via French from Spanish emir, from Arabic ' amīr commander
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 emir
n.
1590s, from Arabic amir "commander" (see admiral).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper