Definition of dervish
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
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Recent Examples of dervish from the Web
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Meanwhile, Demi Lovato's Instagram account reveals a pop star who moonlights as a Muay Thai whirling dervish.
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Cox’s Peggy is a dervish of dance energy wrapped up in a virginal package.
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Still, in the run-up to the 100-day deadline, the administration has become a whirling dervish of activity.
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QuickTime videos lead you through gallery doors and spin you about various rooms, creating the enthusiastically dizzy perspective of a museum tour led by a whirling dervish or rambunctious child.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dervish.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of dervish
Turkish derviş, literally, beggar, from Persian darvīsh
Other Religion (Eastern and Other) Terms
Zen, antinomian, avatar, gnosticism, illuminati, ineffable, karma, koan, mantra
DERVISH Defined for English Language Learners
dervish
playDefinition of dervish for English Language Learners
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: a member of a Muslim religious group that is known for its customs including a fast spinning dance that is done as part of worship
Learn More about dervish
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dervish
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