emir

or e·meer, a·mir, a·meer

[ uh-meer, ey-meer, ey-meer ]

/ əˈmɪər, eɪˈmɪər, ˈeɪ mɪər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR emir ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

Nearby words

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for emir

He adds: “None of the fighters will dare touch it, if an emir has given permission.”
U.S. Humanitarian Aid Going to ISIS|Jamie Dettmer|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Also imprisoned with the boys: a Libyan member of ISIS who apparently had gotten into a dispute with the emir.
Abducted, Tortured, Indoctrinated: The Tale of a Teen Who Escaped ISIS|Yusuf Sayman|August 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The next day they met a local ISIS official, or emir: a Saudi man who introduced himself as Abu Musa.
Abducted, Tortured, Indoctrinated: The Tale of a Teen Who Escaped ISIS|Yusuf Sayman|August 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The emir often receives household heads asking him to let their sons leave ISIS and apparently he often responds positively.
ISIS’s Newest Recruit Is 10 Years Old|Niqash|June 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The emir had apparently received the cup as a gift for his assistance during a famine in Egypt.
Spain’s New ‘Holy Grail’: Jesus Couldn’t Afford That Kind of Bling|Candida Moss|April 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The maribout stopped his dromedary at the tent of the emir Hadjy, who commanded the caravan.
The Pacha of Many Tales|Frederick Marryat
I saw the Emir afterwards in Samarcand; he is in the forty-second year of his age, of middle stature, somewhat corpulent.
Travels in Central Asia|Arminius Vmbry
The advance guard of the Emir's army, commanded by Ivan Ogareff, might at any moment appear.
Michael Strogoff|Jules Verne
No, your Highness, but I was obliged to tear the envelope, the better to hide it from the Emir's soldiers.
Michael Strogoff|Jules Verne
Over every five or six Ras Miya an Emir presides, who is also provided with an assistant.
Fire and Sword in the Sudan|Rudolf C. Slatin

British Dictionary definitions for emir

emir

/ (ɛˈmɪə) /

noun (in the Islamic world)

an independent ruler or chieftain

a military commander or governor

a descendant of Mohammed

Also spelt: amir

Word Origin for emir

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

emir

1590s, from Arabic amir "commander" (see admiral).

emir

or e·meer, a·mir, a·meer

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of emir

Examples from the Web for emir

British Dictionary definitions for emir

emir

noun (in the Islamic world)

Word Origin for emir

Word Origin and History for emir

emir