vizier
English
Alternative forms
- vezir, vezîr (stricter transliterations of Ottoman Turkish)
- vazir (via Persian instead of Ottoman Turkish)
- wasir, wazir, wazīr (directly from Arabic)
- vizir, vizeer, guazil (less common forms)
Etymology
From Ottoman Turkish وزیر (vezir) (Turkish vezir) (plausibly via French visir, vizir or Spanish visir), from Arabic وَزِير (wazīr, “helper, aide, minister”, literally “one who bears (the burden of office)”).[1] Doublet of wazir.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /vɪˈzɪə/, /ˈvɪzɪə/
- (General American) IPA(key): /vɪˈzɪɹ/
- Rhymes: -ɪə(ɹ)
Noun
vizier (plural viziers)
- (history) A high-ranking official or minister in an Islamic government, especially in the Ottoman Empire.
- (history) The highest-ranking official or minister in ancient Egypt or Ebla; a chief administrator or a chancellor.
- (history) An ancient Mesopotamian 𒈛 (sukkal).
- 1981, William Irwin Thompson, The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light: Mythology, Sexuality and the Origins of Culture, London: Rider/Hutchinson & Co., page 174:
- As Inanna prepares to descend she fastens the seven divine laws to her side, and as she walks toward the netherworld she speaks to her vizier, Ninshubur.
-
- vicegerent, viceroy
- (chess) A fairy chess piece that can only be moved one space up, down, left or right.
Derived terms
- grand vizier
- vizierate
- vizieress
- vizierial
- viziership
Descendants
- → Irish: visír
- → Welsh: fisir
Translations
high-ranking official
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See also
- wazir
References
- “vizier”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
Dutch
Pronunciation
Audio (file)
Etymology 1
From Middle Dutch visiere, from Old French visiere.
Noun
vizier n (plural vizieren, diminutive viziertje n)
- visor, a removable protective guard on a (knight's) helmet
- backsight, a visual aiming aid on the barrel of a gun
Etymology 2
From Middle French visir, from Ottoman Turkish وزیر (vezir), from Arabic وَزِير (wazīr, “helper, aide, minister”).
Noun
vizier m (plural viziers or vizieren, diminutive viziertje n)
- A high-ranking official or minister in an Islamic government, especially in the Ottoman Empire.
Derived terms
- grootvizier m
- vizierschap n
References
- M. J. Koenen & J. Endepols, Verklarend Handwoordenboek der Nederlandse Taal (tevens Vreemde-woordentolk), Groningen, Wolters-Noordhoff, 1969 (26th edition) [Dutch dictionary in Dutch]