vizier

vi·zier

noun \və-ˈzir\

Definition of VIZIER

1

: a high executive officer of various Muslim countries and especially of the Ottoman Empire

2

: a civil officer in ancient Egypt having viceregal powers

— vi·zier·ate \-ˈzir-ət, -ˈzir-ˌāt\ noun

— vi·zier·ial \-ˈzir-ē-əl\ adjective

— vi·zier·ship \-ˈzir-ˌship\ noun

Origin of VIZIER

Turkish vezir, from Arabic wazīr

First Known Use: 1599

Rhymes with VIZIER

adhere, Aesir, Ajmer, all clear, ambeer, appear, arrear, Asir, Ayrshire, besmear, by ear, Cape Fear, career, cashier, cashmere, Cheshire, chimere, clavier, cohere, compeer, destrier, dog-ear, emir, Empire, endear, ensphere, eyrir, Fafnir, footgear, frontier, gambier, Goodyear, headgear, inhere, Izmir, Kashmir, kefir, killdeer, Landseer, leap year, life peer, light-year, man-year, menhir, midyear, mishear, monsieur, mouse-ear, mule deer, musk deer, nadir, near beer, New Year, off year, out-year, pickeer, portiere, premier, premiere, red deer, redear, rehear, reindeer, revere, revers, Robespierre, roe deer, root beer, santir, severe, Shakespeare, sincere, slick-ear, small beer, spruce beer, steer clear, Tangier, tapir, tin ear, uprear, Vanir, veneer, Vermeer, voir dire, wheatear, Wiltshire, wind shear, wood ear, worm gear, Ymir, Yorkshire, zaire, Zaire

vizier

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Chief minister of the 'Abbasid caliphs and later a high government official in various Muslim countries. The office was originally held and defined by the Barmakids in the 8th century; they acted as the caliph's representative to the public, later serving a similar function for various sultans. In the Ottoman Empire the title could be held by several people at once; under Mehmed II the position of grand vizier, the absolute representative of the sultan, was created.

Variants of VIZIER

vizier Arabic wazir