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• shiva
  shiva

  noun

  the traditional seven-day period of mourning observed by Jews immediately following the funeral of a parent, sibling, child, or spouse.
• Shiva
  Shiva

  noun

  “the Destroyer,” the third member of the Trimurti, along with Brahma the Creator and Vishnu the Preserver.

shiva

¹ American  

[shiv-uh] / ˈʃɪv ə /

Also shibah or shivah

noun

1. the traditional seven-day period of mourning observed by Jews immediately following the funeral of a parent, sibling, child, or spouse.

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idioms

1. sit shiva, to observe this period.

Shiva ² American  

[shee-vuh] / ˈʃi və /

Also Siva

noun

Hinduism.

1. “the Destroyer,” the third member of the Trimurti, along with Brahma the Creator and Vishnu the Preserver.

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Shiva British  

/ ˈʃiːvə, ˈʃɪvə /

noun

1. a variant spelling of Siva

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Other Word Forms

• Shivaism
  noun
• Shivaist
  noun
• Shivaistic
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of shiva¹

First recorded in 1890–95; from Ashkenazi pronunciation of Hebrew shibhʿāh “seven”

Origin of Shiva²

From Sanskrit: literally, “the auspicious”

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

shiva Shiva

We sit shiva, a formal seven days of grief in which mourners stay at home, wear torn clothing, cover mirrors, sit on low stools and silently feel their loss.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

“I wasn’t able to grieve. When Tamir returns I will sit shiva with all of the respect he deserves.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2025

And in some ways, we are still in shiva now, but not so intensively.

From Slate ● Aug. 7, 2025

In the Jewish tradition, after someone dies, you sit shiva for a week.

From Slate ● Aug. 7, 2025

No family members sitting shiva, no yahrzeit candle to commemorate his death.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

To Hindus, the 22,000-foot Himalayan peak is the home of Shiva, the god of destruction and transformation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

"The only common feeling these days is uncertainty about what lies ahead and what the outcome will be" of this war, 31-year-old Tehran resident Shiva told AFP.

From Barron's ● Mar. 22, 2026

At its heart was a 12ft tall emblem of the Hindu god Shiva, sheathed in gold encrusted with rubies and pearls.

From BBC ● Jan. 17, 2025

"We are primarily interested in the scientific question of the dynamics and deposition of Champati slide: how it flows, where it goes, how far, and with what force," said author Shiva Pudasaini from Kathmandu.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 19, 2024

Shiva took me under his wing, just like Alex used to do, and introduced me to some of the neighborhood kids, helping me feel more at home.

From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana

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