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kalif

 - 3 dictionary results

ka⋅lif

[key-lif, kal-if]
–noun
caliph.

ca⋅liph

[key-lif, kal-if]
–noun
1. a spiritual leader of Islam, claiming succession from Muhammad.
2. any of the former Muslim rulers of Baghdad (until 1258) and of the Ottoman Empire (from 1571 until 1924).


Origin:
1350–1400; ME caliphe, califfe < MF < ML calipha < Ar khalīf(a) successor (of Muhammad), deriv. of khalafa succeed


cal⋅iph⋅al [kal-uh-fuhl, key-luh-] , adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

caliph 
1393, from Arabic khalifa "successor," originally Abu-Bakr, who succeeded Muhammad in the role of leader of the faithful after the prophet's death. Caliphate "dominion of a caliph" is from 1614.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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