Shiʽite

noun

Shiʽ·​ite

variants or Shiite

-ˌīt 

plural -s

: a Muslim belonging to the Shiʽa branch of Islam

Word History

Etymology

Arabic shiyaʽīy partisan, Shiʽite, from shīʽah following, sect, from shāʽa to accompany

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined above

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