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Mafia

Browse the Dictionary:: A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; W; X; Y; Z; #

mafia

Main Entry:: Ma·fia
Pronunciation:: \ˈmä-fē-ə, ˈma-\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: Mafia, Maffia, a Sicilian secret criminal society, from Italian dialect (Sicily), probably from mafiusu
Date:: 1875

1 a: a secret criminal society of Sicily or Italy b: a similarly conceived criminal organization in the United States; also : a similar organization elsewhere <the Japanese Mafia> c: a criminal organization associated with a particular traffic <the cocaine Mafia>2often not capitalized : a group of people likened to the Mafia; especially : a group of people of similar interests or backgrounds prominent in a particular field or enterprise : clique

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