ayatollah
pronunciation
How to pronounce ayatollah in British English:
UK [ˌaɪəˈtɒlə]
How to pronounce ayatollah in American English:
US [ˌaɪəˈtoʊlə]
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- Noun:
- a high-ranking Shiite religious leader who is regarded as an authority on religious law and its interpretation and who has political power as well
Word Origin
- ayatollah (n.)
- honorific title for an Iranian Shiite religious leader, 1950, from Persian, from Arabic ayatu-llah, literally "miraculous sign of God."
Example
- 1. Ayatollah ali khamenei does not like atom bombs .
- 2. Iran 's chief delegate , ayatollah muhammad taskhiri , was besieged with accusations .
- 3. He was accused of blasphemy and the ayatollah khomeini ordered him executed and offered bounty for his death .
- 4. Two letters from mr obama to ayatollah ali khamenei , iran 's supreme leader , are reported to have received a dusty answer .
- 5. This month mr. ahmadinejad refused a direct order from iran 's supreme leader , ayatollah ali khamenei , to drop a contested cabinet appointment .