Mahdi

noun

Mah·​di ˈmä-dē 

1

: the expected messiah of Muslim tradition

2

: a Muslim leader who assumes a messianic role

Mahdism

ˈmä-ˌdi-zəm 

noun

Mahdist

ˈmä-dist 

noun

Word History

Etymology

Arabic mahdī, literally, one rightly guided

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1