Definitions

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

  • noun A seven-day period of formal mourning observed after the funeral of a close relative.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun a weeklong period of formal mourning for a close relative

Etymologies

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

[Yiddish shive, from Hebrew šib‘â, seven; see šbע in Semitic roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Hebrew  ("seven")

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Examples

  • The Hebrew word "shiva" means seven and refers to the number of days the mourners are required to stay at home receiving visitors to pay their condolences.

    Rabbi Jason Miller: Sitting Shiva For Traditional Shiva Rabbi Jason Miller 2012

  • The Hebrew word "shiva" means seven and refers to the number of days the mourners are required to stay at home receiving visitors to pay their condolences.

    Rabbi Jason Miller: Sitting Shiva For Traditional Shiva Rabbi Jason Miller 2012

  • The Hebrew word "shiva" means seven and refers to the number of days the mourners are required to stay at home receiving visitors to pay their condolences.

    The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com Rabbi Jason Miller 2012

  • Luckily I kept the fact that my suitcase was slightly -over- the weight limit on the way here in mind and only bought a small Christmas present for my mother and a small but cool stone called a shiva linga, which is a stone gathered in a special yearly ceremony from the Namada River.

    Cat Rambo catrambo 2007

  • She’s in shiva black and pearls, though she also appears on the screen, turned via photoshop into an ab-proud Pussycat dancer.

    TV Upfronts: America’s Next Top Avatar - ArtsBeat Blog - NYTimes.com 2007

  • She’s in shiva black and pearls, though she also appears on the screen, turned via photoshop into an ab-proud Pussycat dancer.

    TV Upfronts: America’s Next Top Avatar - ArtsBeat Blog - NYTimes.com 2007

  • Of course, the idea of shiva is that the mourners shouldn't have to worry about making sure their house is clean for shiva or if there will be enough food or ample parking.

    Rabbi Jason Miller: Sitting Shiva For Traditional Shiva Rabbi Jason Miller 2012

  • Of course, the idea of shiva is that the mourners shouldn't have to worry about making sure their house is clean for shiva or if there will be enough food or ample parking.

    Rabbi Jason Miller: Sitting Shiva For Traditional Shiva Rabbi Jason Miller 2012

  • Less than two miles away, the Orthodox Jewish family of the 8-year-old boy who got lost on his first walk home from a religious day camp and encountered Aron began a week-long mourning ritual known as "shiva."

    Yahoo! News: Business - Opinion 2011

  • Of course, the idea of shiva is that the mourners shouldn't have to worry about making sure their house is clean for shiva or if there will be enough food or ample parking.

    The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com Rabbi Jason Miller 2012

Comments

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  • Parvati's hubby.

    March 6, 2009