Dervish - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A dervish is a member of a Muslim religious group known for their whirling dances as a form of worship. The term also describes someone who moves with energetic, spinning motions.
Definition:
A member of a Muslim ascetic order known for ecstatic rituals and whirling dances.
Synonyms:
mystic, ascetic, Sufi, holy man
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
skeptic, materialist, atheist
Common Collocations:
whirling dervish, Sufi dervish, dervish order, dervish dance
Derivatives:
dervishlike, dervishhood
Usage Tips:
Use "dervish" to describe a Sufi mystic or someone moving energetically like one in a whirl.
Common Phrases:
whirling dervish, dancing like a dervish, dervish ceremony
Etymology:
From Persian "darwīsh," meaning poor or needy, referring to the ascetic lifestyle of Sufi mystics.
Examples:
- 1. The dervish spun gracefully during the ceremony.
- 2. She moved like a whirling dervish across the stage.
- 3. The Sufi dervish chanted prayers late into the night.
- 4. His frantic cleaning made him resemble a dervish.