Ismaili

(redirected from Ismailians)
Also found in: Thesaurus, Encyclopedia.

Is·ma·i·li

(ĭs′mä-ē′lē) also Is·ma·i·li·an (-ē′lē-ən)
n. pl. Is·ma·i·lis also Is·ma·i·li·ans
A member of a branch of Shiism that follows a living imam and is noted for esoteric philosophy.
[Arabic Isma'īlīy, after Isma'īl (died 760), son of the sixth imam, Jafar (700?-765).]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Ismaili

(ˌɪzmɑːˈiːlɪ) or

Isma'ili

npl -lis
1. (Islam) a Shiah sect whose adherents believe that Ismail, son of the sixth imam, was the rightful seventh imam
2. (Islam) Also called: Ismailian a member of this sect
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun 1. Ismaili - an adherent of Ismailism; a member of the Ismaili branch of Shiism
adherent, disciple - someone who believes and helps to spread the doctrine of another
Adj. 1. Ismaili - of or relating to a branch of Shiism that is noted for its esoteric philosophy
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
References in periodicals archive ?
After many mishaps and wanderings, Hasan became the head of the Persian sect of the Ismailians, a party of fanatics who had long murmured in obscurity, but rose to an evil eminence under the guidance of his strong and evil will.
Appendix: two early reviews of the Rubaiyat

Full browser ?