This week’s theme
Words borrowed from Persian

This week’s words
satrap
dervish
baksheesh
ayatollah
pasha

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(DUHR-vish)

MEANING:

noun:
1. A Muslim monk of various ascetic orders, some of whom take part in ecstatic rituals such as whirling dances or chants.
2. Someone who exhibits frenzied movements.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Turkish, from Persian darvish (poor, beggar). Earliest documented use: 1585.

USAGE:

“Max thrusts and struts her way through each one, starting slowly with the feet, speeding up, then adding the arms until she becomes a sweat-streaked Lycra dervish.”
Anna Burnside; Lorraine Kelly and Trainer Pal Launch Fitness DVD; Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland); Dec 26, 2016.

See more usage examples of dervish in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: