[shee-ahyt] 
| a member of one of the two great religious divisions of Islam that regards Ali, the son-in-law of Muhammad, as the legitimate successor of Muhammad, and disregards the three caliphs who succeeded him. |
| Shi·ite also Shi·'ite (shē'īt') n. A member of the branch of Islam that regards Ali and his descendants as the legitimate successors to Muhammad and rejects the first three caliphs. adj. Of or relating to the Shiites or their branch of Islam. [Arabic šī'a, partisans; see Shiah.] Shi·it'ic (-ĭt'ĭk) adj. |
aɪt