softa

American

[sawf-tuh, sof-] / ˈsɔf tə, ˈsɒf- /

noun

a Turkish Muslim theological student.

softa British

/ ˈsɒftə /

noun

a Muslim student of divinity and jurisprudence, esp in Turkey

"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

Etymology

Origin of softa

1605–15; < Turkish < Persian sōkhta literally, fired (by love of learning)

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Softa, sof′ta, n. a Moslem theological student, attached to a mosque.

From Project Gutenberg

"A short cut into Paradise that would be," scornfully observed Orli, who, despite his office of softa, did not hesitate to speak disrespectfully even of Paradise, whither every true believer ought joyfully to hasten.

From Project Gutenberg

He could contrive to express more disgust and more grim determination in that one rudimentary act than even a Stamboul Softa can.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023