ayatollah

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(ī′yə tō′lə, -tō lä′; ä′yä-)

noun

  1. a leader of the Shiite sect of the Muslim religion, serving as teacher, judge, and administrator
  2. a leader, authority, etc. having much power or influence

Origin: Ar, lit., sign of God < āyat, sign + Allah, Allah

See ayatollah in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
Islam
  1. A high-ranking Shiite religious authority regarded as worthy of imitation in matters of religious law and interpretation.
  2. Used as a title for such a leader.

Origin:

Origin: Persian āyatollāh

Origin: , from Arabic ’āyatu llāh, sign of God

Origin: : ’āyatu

Origin: , bound form of ’āya, sign, Koranic verse; see אwy in Semitic roots

Origin: + allāh, Allah; see Allah

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