Shiʿah

or Shi·ʿa

[ shee-uh ]

nounIslam.
  1. (used with a plural verb) the Shiʿites.

  2. (used with a singular verb) Shiʿite.

Origin of Shiʿah

1
First recorded in 1620–30, Shiʿah is from the Arabic word shīʿah literally, sect

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British Dictionary definitions for Shiah

Shiah

Shia

/ (ˈʃiːə) /


noun
  1. one of the two main branches of Islam (the other being the Sunni), making up a tenth or more of the entire Muslim population, and forming the majority in Iran and Iraq, which regards Mohammed's cousin Ali and his successors as the true imams

  2. another name for Shiite

adjective
  1. designating or characteristic of this sect or its beliefs and practices

Origin of Shiah

1
C17: from Arabic shī`ah sect, from shā`a to follow

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