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caliph



ca·liph [ ˈkā-ləf]



caliph   
noun
[ˈkā-ləf]
variants: or less commonly calif

Definition of caliph

: a successor of Muhammad as temporal (see temporal entry 1 sense 1c) and spiritual head of Islam —used as a title


Other Words from caliph
caliphal \ ˈkā-​lə-​fəl , ˈka-​ \ adjective



Recent Examples on the Web


//In early July, Baghdadi made his first public appearance, delivering a sermon in a centuries-old mosque in the Iraqi city of Mosul and declaring himself caliph, or leader of the world’s Muslims.
— BostonGlobe.com, "But he was an imposing figurehead, and his ability to elude the world’s most powerful intelligence services for so many years added to his mystique among his followers. He will be hard to replace.," 28 Oct. 2019
//Built between 1227 and 1234 by Al-Mustansir, the penultimate Abbasid caliph in Baghdad, the Mustansiriya was one of the first universities in the world.
— Peter Schwartzstein, Smithsonian, "What the Restoration of Iraq’s Oldest University Says About the Nation’s Future," 4 Sep. 2019
//Fit for a caliph Glass inlays of clear and purple geometric shapes and multicolored millefiori tiles, along with elaborate mosaics, decorated the walls of the audience chamber at Dar al-Kilafa palace.
— Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, "Medieval artisans built a glass-walled palace in the desert," 31 Aug. 2018
//For four centuries, the sultan in Istanbul was also the religious leader, or caliph, of the entire Muslim world.
— Yaroslav Trofimov, WSJ, "The Long Struggle for Supremacy in the Muslim World," 26 Oct. 2018
//That glittering opulence may have been an allusion to the story of King Solomon’s glass palace, but the appearance of al-Mu’tasim’s audience chamber also created a physical manifestation of the caliph’s power.
— Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, "Medieval artisans built a glass-walled palace in the desert," 31 Aug. 2018
//The original Byzantine church was destroyed by the Persians in A.D. 614. Rebuilt shortly thereafter, the Egyptian caliph al-Hakim destroyed the church in 1009 and had the tomb hacked down to bedrock.
— Joe Yudin, Town & Country, "How to Plan a Trip to Israel," 5 Oct. 2016
//But Hussein was the head of the Hashemite clan, keeper of Islam’s holy places and a man with good claim to the title of caliph, leader of Muslims.
— Anthony Sattin, WSJ, "‘Behind the Lawrence Legend’ Review: Picking Sides in the Middle East," 6 Apr. 2018
//Some make her the daughter of Muatamid bin Abbad, a wine-drinking caliph descended from the Prophet.
— The Economist, "Muslims consider Queen Elizabeth’s ties to the Prophet Muhammad," 5 Apr. 2018


First Known Use of caliph

14th century, in the meaning defined above



History and Etymology for caliph

Middle English caliphe, from Middle French calife, from Arabic khalīfa successor



Dictionary Entries near caliph

caliper gauge

caliper rule

caliper square

caliph

caliphate

Calippus

Caliroa



More Definitions forcaliph

caliph

noun
ca·​liph
variants: or calif \ ˈkā-​ləf \

Kids Definition of caliph

: an important Muslim political and religious leader