English Explanatory Dictionary

ayatollah

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A religious leader in Twelverism.
  2. An authority on any subject.

Pronunciation

/aɪ.əˈtoʊl.ə/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-ayatollah.wav

Word forms

ayatollah ayatollahs ayatolla

Etymology

Borrowed from Iranian Persian آیَتُاللّٰه (âyato-l-lâh), from Classical Persian آیَةُاللّٰه (āyatu-l-lāh), from Arabic آيَةُ ٱللَّٰهِ (ʔāyatu llāhi, “sign of God”, from آيَة (ʔāya, “sign”) + اللّٰه (allāh, “God”)).

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