SINCE 1828
variants:
or less commonly agha \ ˈä-gə , ˈa- \
plural -s
Definition of aga
: a man of authority who bears a title of respect: such as
a
: a military or civil officer in the Ottoman Empire
a vast body of dragoons … under … their great aga— Jonathan Swift
b
: a Turkish chief
the khans … and agas … are probably the oldest landed aristocracy of the world— Harold Lamb
c
: a religious leader
the Aga Khan … claims descent from Fatima— H. G. Rawlinson
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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