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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

Death notices and shiva house addresses are shared on WhatsApp, on signs posted around the community or, in Israel, on notices posted on neighborhood streets.

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

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

From Slate ● Aug. 7, 2025

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

From Slate ● Aug. 7, 2025

Their dark slate roofs and tall hedges gave the buildings an atmosphere of solemn dignity, like matrons sitting shiva.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

Mount Kailash - a peak in the Himalayas near the border between Nepal and Tibet - is considered the spiritual home of the Hindu god Shiva.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

In an 1803 etching and aquatint with watercolor by Thomas Daniell, we see Gangaram absorbed in sketching wall reliefs of Shiva and Parvati from a rock-cut cave at Ellora.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026

"We used to have a very slender Ram, a very slender Shiva, drawn lovingly by artists who drew by hand," said Puri, 68, who has been with ACK for 34 years.

From Barron's ● Feb. 1, 2026

Aloo Kumar, 55, wanted to express her gratitude to Lord Shiva, one of Hinduism’s three most important deities.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 27, 2024

“No, you hold on to god Shiva and keep asking him to help you. He is strong. I know he will listen to your prayers.”

From "Lucky Broken Girl" by Ruth Behar

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