shivah

or shi·bah

[shiv-uh]

noun Judaism.

the mourning period, following the funeral and lasting traditionally for seven days, observed by Jews for a deceased parent, sibling, child, or spouse.
sit shivah, to observe this period.

Origin of shivah

From the Hebrew word shibhʿāh literally, seven

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

British Dictionary definitions for shivah

shivah

noun Judaism

the period of formal mourning lasting seven days from the funeral during which the mourner stays indoors and sits on a low stool
sit shivah to mourn

Word Origin for shivah

from Hebrew, literally: seven (days)

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 shivah

seven days of mourning in Jewish religious custom, 1892, from Hebrew shibhah "seven," short for shibh'ath yeme ha'ebhel "the seven days of mourning."