English
Mahdi
Mahdi comes from Arabic مَهْدِيّ ‘guided one’, and goes back to هَدَى.
- Arabicc. 500–presentهَدَىhadā‘to guide’
- Arabic, derivedc. 500–presentمَهْدِيّmahdiyy‘guided one’
- Englishearliest quotation 1965Mahdi
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Arabicc. 500–presentهَدَىhadā‘to guide’
- Arabic, derivedc. 500–presentمَهْدِيّmahdiyy‘guided one’
- Englishearliest quotation 1965Mahdi
Earliest quotation: 1965, Frank Herbert, Book I: Dune: “Of course, my Lord. You asked what they were…”
Every English word from Arabic هَدَى
Today it means
name A leader who, according to Sunni eschatology, will appear and restore peace and justice before the end of the world.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Arabic هَدَى / Mahdi