Alawite
|Al-a-wite|
C1
/ˈæl.əˌwaɪt/
Shiite sect member
Etymology
Etymology Information
'Alawite' originates from Arabic, specifically the word 'ʿAlawī', where 'ʿAlī' refers to 'Ali', the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad.
Historical Evolution
'ʿAlawī' transformed into the French word 'Alaouite', and eventually became the modern English word 'Alawite'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred to followers of Ali, but over time it evolved into its current meaning of a member of a specific Shiite sect.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a member of a Shiite Muslim sect primarily found in Syria.
The Alawites have a significant presence in the Syrian government.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/07/17 02:32