Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Mahdi
5 dictionary results for: Mahdi
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
Mah·di       [mah-dee] Pronunciation Key
–noun, plural -dis.
1.the Muslim messiah, an expected spiritual and temporal ruler destined to establish a reign of righteousness throughout the world.
2.any of various claimants to this role, esp. Muhammad Ahmed, who established an independent government in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan that lasted until 1898.

[Origin: 1790–1800; < Ar mahdīy he who is guided]

Mahdism       [mah-diz-uhm] Pronunciation Key, noun
Mahdist, noun, adjective
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Mah·di       (mä'dē)  Pronunciation Key 
n.   pl. Mah·dis Islam
  1. The messiah who, it is believed, will appear at the world's end and establish a reign of peace and righteousness.
  2. A leader who assumes the role of a messiah.


[Arabic mahdī, rightly guided one, Mahdi, passive participle of hadā, to lead; see hdy in Semitic roots.]

Mah'dism n., Mah'dist n.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
mahdi 
1792, from Arabic mahdiy, lit. "he who is guided aright," pp. of hada "to lead in the right way." Spiritual and temporal leader expected by some Muslims. Applied c.1880 to insurrectionary leaders in the Sudan who claimed to be him.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
mahdi

noun
(Islam) a messianic leader who (according to popular Muslim belief) will appear before the end of the world and restore justice and religion 

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Mahdi

Mah"di\, n. [Ar., guide, leader.] Among Mohammedans, the last imam or leader of the faithful. The Sunni, the largest sect of the Mohammedans, believe that he is yet to appear.

Note: The title has been taken by several persons in countries where Mohammedanism prevails, -- notably by Mohammad Ahmed, who overran the Egyptian Sudan, and in 1885 captured Khartum, his soldiers killing General Gordon, an Englishman, who was then the Egyptian governor of the region.

Share This:Share This: digg.comShare This: ma.gnolia.comShare This: www.stumbleupon.comShare This: del.icio.usShare This: FacebookShare This: favorites.live.comShare This: www.technorati.comShare This: furl.netShare This: myweb2.search.yahoo.comShare This: www.google.com