Dervise

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Dervish \Der"vish\, Dervise \Der"vise\, Dervis \Der"vis\, n.
     [Per. derw[=e]sch, fr. OPer. derew to beg, ask alms: cf. F.
     derviche.]
     1. A Turkish or Persian monk, especially one who professes
        extreme poverty and leads an austere life.
        [1913 Webster]


  
     2. One of the fanatical followers of the Mahdi, in the Sudan,
        in the 1880's.
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  
     3. in modern times, a member of an ascetic Mohammedan sect
        notable for its devotional exercises, which include
        energetic chanting or shouting and rhythmic bodily
        movement, such as whirling, leading to a trance-like state
        or ecstasy. From these exercises the phrase whirling
        dervish is derived.
        [PJC]
  
     4. figuratively, a person who whirls or engages in frenzied
        activity reminiscent of the dervish[3] dancing.
        [PJC]