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sherif

[she-reef]
noun
  1. a governor of Mecca descended from Muhammad.
  2. an Arab chief, prince, or ruler.
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Also sharif, she·reef.

Origin of sherif

First recorded in 1590–1600, sherif is from the Arabic word sharīf exalted (person)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for sherif

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • But the Sherif must have thought us mad, and never troubled to come and see how we got on.

    Lord Jim

    Joseph Conrad

  • His word decided everything—ever since the smashing of Sherif Ali.

    Lord Jim

    Joseph Conrad

  • Sherif felt that some sort of discipline must be maintained among his flock.

    The River War

    Winston S. Churchill

  • But it happened that in a few weeks Sherif had occasion to journey to the island of Abba.

    The River War

    Winston S. Churchill

  • He was jealous of Sherif and envied him his sanctimonious disciples.

    The River War

    Winston S. Churchill

British Dictionary definitions for sherif

sherif

shereef sharif

noun plural ashraf Islam
  1. a descendant of Mohammed through his daughter Fatima
  2. (formerly) the governor of Mecca
  3. an honorific title accorded to any Muslim ruler
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Word Origin

C16: from Arabic sharīf noble
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