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ayatollah

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ayatollahs

Main Entry:: aya·tol·lah
Pronunciation:: \ˌī-ə-ˈtō-lə, -ˈtä-, -ˈtə-, ˈī-ə-ˌ\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: Persian āyatollāh, literally, sign of God, from Arabic āyatallāh, from āya sign, miracle + allāh God
Date:: 1950

: a religious leader among Shiite Muslims —used as a title of respect especially for one who is not an imam

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