wali

Definitions

1. A surname from Arabic.
2. A provincial governor in certain Muslim contexts.
3. A saint or prophet.

Equivalents

Examples

“For much of the last⟳ century, the mountainous region of Swat was ruled as a princely kingdom where a benign autocrat, the wali, bestowed schools for girls, health care for everyone and the chance to get⟳ a degree abroad for the talented.”

“You see⟳ the shrine was founded in memory of a great Wali, seer, holy man – but apparently a Mohammedan.”

CEFR level