Fatimid

/ˈfætɪmɪd/ noun

Definition

A member of an Islamic dynasty that ruled North Africa and the Middle East from the 10th to 12th centuries, claiming descent from Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad.

Etymology

From Arabic Fāṭimah, the name of Muhammad's daughter; the dynasty took her name as proof of their sacred lineage. The suffix -id indicates a member of a dynasty or people.

Kelly Says

The Fatimids built Cairo and established Al-Azhar University, one of the world's oldest universities still operating today—they created a golden age of Islamic culture when Europe was in the Middle Ages.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.