dervish

noun

der·​vish ˈdər-vish How to pronounce dervish (audio)
1
: a member of a Muslim religious order noted for devotional exercises (such as bodily movements leading to a trance)
2
: one that whirls or dances with or as if with the abandonment of a dervish

Examples of dervish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web From midcentury design to whirling dervish ceremonies, the sisters behind womenswear brand Nackiyé share their favorite Istanbul spots for shopping and sightseeing. Feride Yalav-Heckeroth, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Sep. 2024 Hire a speedboat, and take the day to swim in its clear waters and snorkel to the Cave of Haxhi Ali, a karst cave named after a revered Bektashi dervish and saint in Albania. Samia Qaiyum, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 July 2024 Up the East Coast comes Eleanor, Leo’s former best friend and a whirling dervish in a daffodil dress. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 13 June 2024 Irving was the more spectacular of the two, spinning, driving, a dervish with the ball—his performance in the second half lifted the team to an easy win, clinching the series. Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 5 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for dervish 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dervish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Turkish derviş, literally, beggar, from Persian darvīsh

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dervish was circa 1550

Dictionary Entries Near dervish

Cite this Entry

“Dervish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dervish. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

dervish

noun
der·​vish ˈdər-vish How to pronounce dervish (audio)
: a member of a Muslim religious group noted for its customs (as bodily movements leading to a trance)

More from Merriam-Webster on dervish

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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