English Explanatory Dictionary

houri

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A beautiful virgin girl supposed to dwell in Paradise for the enjoyment of the faithful.
  2. Any voluptuous, beautiful woman.

Pronunciation

ho͝o′rē hou′ə-rē /ˈhʊəɹi/ /ˈhaʊəri/ ho͝or′ē /ˈhʊɹ.i/ /ˈhu.ɹi/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-houri.wav

Word forms

houri houris

Etymology

From French houri, from Persian حوری (hurî), from Arabic حُورِيّ (ḥūriyy) and Arabic حُورِيَّة (ḥūriyya), adjective and feminine singulative of حُور (ḥūr) from Classical Arabic حُورٌ عِينٌ (ḥūrun ʕīnun, “fair maidens, black-eyed ones”). See أَحْوَر m (ʔaḥwar), حَوْرَاء f (ḥawrāʔ) for the base adjective.

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