maharajah

or ma·ha·ra·ja

[ mah-huh-rah-juh, -zhuh ]

/ ˌmɑ həˈrɑ dʒə, -ʒə /

noun

(formerly) a ruling prince in India, especially of one of the major states.

Nearby words

Origin of maharajah

1690–1700; < Hindi mahārājā great king, equivalent to mahā- great + rājā rajah

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for maharaja

The Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II was the first to make it his private residence.
Living Like a Maharajah|Daily Beast Promotions|January 22, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Here in the former home of the Maharaja one finds an opulent oasis from the bustle of the city.
Living Like a Maharajah|Daily Beast Promotions|January 22, 2010|DAILY BEAST
In 1866 he received the title of maharaja, and the prefix sawai in 1877.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Slice 7|Various
The Maharaja he keeps fourteen or fifteen horses for his own riding.
From Sea to Sea|Rudyard Kipling

The palace of the maharaja is a handsome block of buildings dating mainly from the middle of the 18th century.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 15, Slice 6|Various
The Maharaja is one of the most distinguished of native princes and a descendant of the famous Rajput line of kings.
The Old World and Its Ways|William Jennings Bryan
A splendid body of six hundred nobles and retainers guarded the person of the Maharaja.
Lachmi Bai Rani of Jhansi|Michael White

British Dictionary definitions for maharaja

maharajah

maharaja

/ (ˌmɑːhəˈrɑːdʒə) /

noun

any of various Indian princes, esp any of the rulers of the former native states

Word Origin for maharajah

C17: Hindi, from mahā great + rajah

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 maharaja

maharajah

also maharaja, 1690s, from Hindi, "great king," from Sanskrit maha "great" (from PIE root *meg- "great;" see magnate) + rajan "king" (see rajah). The fem. equivalent is maharani (1855).