maulvi

noun

maul·​vi

variants or less commonly moulvi

ˈmau̇lvē

or moolvi

ˈmül-

plural maulvies or maulvis

: a learned teacher or doctor of Islamic law

—used especially in India as a form of address for a learned Muslim who ministers to the religious needs of others

Word History

Etymology

Hindi maulvī, from Arabic mawlawī

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