First Known Use: 1950
Dictionary
ayatollah
noun aya·tol·lah \ˌī-ə-ˈtō-lə, -ˈtä-, -ˈtə-, ˈī-ə-ˌ\
Definition of AYATOLLAH
: a religious leader among Shiite Muslims —used as a title of respect especially for one who is not an imam
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Origin of AYATOLLAH
Persian āyatollāh, literally, sign of God, from Arabic āyatallāh, from āya sign, miracle + allāh God
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