zawiyahttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zawiya_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezawiya, n.
First published 1986; not fully revised

zawiyanoun

  1. 1836–
    In North Africa, a Muslim religious community or its mosque, usually containing the shrine of a holy person.
    1. 1836
      These lights were not hung merely in honour of the Prophet: they were near a za′wiyeh (or small mosque) in which is buried the sheykh Durwee′sh El-Ashma′wee; and this night was his Moo′lid.
      E. W. Lane, Account of Manners & Customs of Modern Egyptians vol. II. xi. 190
    2. 1874
      The Djamäa, or rather Zaouia of Abd-er-Rahman eth-Thalebi..contains the tomb of that saint, who died in 1471.
      R. L. Playfair, Handbook for Travellers in Algeria ii. 70/2
    3. 1911
      Kufra..is a centre of the Senūssite brotherhood, whose zawya (convent) at Jof, in Kebabo, ranks in importance with that of Jarabub.
      Encyclopædia Britannica vol. XXVII. 289/1
    4. 1911
      A zawiyah, or ‘hermitage’ was offered him by the Pasha.
      D. S. Margoliouth, Mohammedanism v. 184
    5. 1924
      The sacred colleges of the Moslem fraternities, zaouias, are the scenes of wild, maniacal, religious orgies.
      W. M. Sloane, Greater France in Africa viii. 166
    6. 1958
      The sheikh (this word signifies either the head of a zaouia or of a tribe..) lives close to the zaouia with his family and the devotees.
      N. Epton, Saints & Sorcerers ii. 28
    7. 1968
      The zawias, or houses of learning and worship, were documentation centres where copies of the Koran were prepared for distribution.
      T. Blunsum, Libya x. 105
    8. 1977
      Nefta..a village..whose roof lines are broken by the cupolas of mosques and zaouias.
      Times 30 April 11/3
    9. 1978
      Who was it used to tell reporters I was a zawiya Berber too pious to be seen?
      J. Updike, Coup (1979) iii. 122

zawiya, n. was first published in 1986; not fully revised.

zawiya, n. was last modified in December 2024.