imam
/ˈiːmɑːm/ noun, proper noun
Forms imams imaum iman
- noun (Islam) One who leads the salat prayers in a mosque.
- noun (usually capitalized) A Shi'ite Muslim leader descended from the prophet Muhammad and functioning as his spiritual successor.
- noun (Twelver Shi'ism) One of the Twelve imams, descendants of Muhammad from the seventh to ninth centuries CE who lived exemplary lives.
- proper noun A surname from Arabic.
Synonyms
Etymology
Borrowed from Arabic إِمَام (ʔimām, “leader”).
Occupational surname, borrowed from Arabic إمام (ʔimām). This surname is mostly found in Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
Webster’s 1913
- noun Among the Mohammedans, a minister or priest who performs the regular service of the mosque.
- noun A Mohammedan prince who, as a successor of Mohammed, unites in his person supreme spiritual and temporal power.
Etymology [Ar. imam.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “imam”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details