1
Stage 1 of 3
ayatu-llah
Arabic · medieval
"sign of God"
literally "miraculous sign of God"
2
Stage 2 of 3
ayatollah
Persian · 1900s
"high-ranking Shiite cleric"
adopted as an honorific for senior Shiite religious scholars
3
Stage 3 of 3
ayatollah
English · 1950
"senior Shiite religious leader"
entered English through reporting on Iranian religious and political leaders
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