Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A member of a branch of Shiism that follows a living imam and is noted for esoteric philosophy.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective of or relating to a branch of Shiism that is noted for its esoteric philosophy
  • noun an adherent of Ismailism; a member of the Ismaili branch of Shiism

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Arabic Isma‘īlīy, after Isma‘īl, (died 760), son of the sixth imam, Jafar (700?–765).]

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