Plural of alfaqui; multiple Muslim scholars learned in Islamic law, theology, and religious matters.
The plural form of 'alfaqui,' using the '-s' ending typical of Romance languages. This variant plural spelling reflects different regional practices in medieval Spanish and Portuguese in adopting and pluralizing the Arabic term.
Different regions spelled this plural differently—'alfaquins' versus 'alfaquis'—and it tells you about trade routes and which Arabic scholars had most influence in which European cities! Linguists can actually track cultural contact by following plural spelling variations across old documents.
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