Shiʿah
or Shi·ʿa
[ shee-uh ]
Origin of Shiʿah
1First 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
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
another name for Shiite
adjective
designating or characteristic of this sect or its beliefs and practices
Origin of Shiah
1C17: 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
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