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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

Etymology

Origin of shiva¹

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

Origin of Shiva²

From Sanskrit: literally, “the auspicious”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

shiva Shiva

In Jewish religion, to begin the ritual mourning period, called shiva, a body needs to be buried first.

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

But for some reason, I needed that validated, and the shiva validated it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2024

All are brought together, at the deceased patriarch’s request, to sit shiva for a backbreaking seven days.

From New York Times ● Feb. 29, 2024

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 name Vasuki indicus honors the mythical serpent associated with the Hindu deity Shiva, as well as the country where the fossil was found.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 29, 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

"Not a lot of trans people in India, or even the world, have the support of their families," says filmmaker, Shiva Krish.

From BBC ● Mar. 31, 2025

“Legend says that lighting the Lamp of Bharata awakens the Sleeper, a demon who will summon Lord Shiva, the fearsome Lord of Destruction, who will dance upon the world and bring an end to Time.”

From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi