ə̇ˈmäm, (ˈ)ē|-, -mam noun
( -s )
Etymology: Arabic imām
1. : the prayer leader of a mosque
2. : the caliph who is the spiritual and secular head of Islam
3. : one of the twelve divinely inspired leaders of the Shi'a appointed to guide men ; also : one of their earthly representatives descended from Muhammad and appointed head of the Muslim community
4. : one of the founders of the four orthodox schools of Muslim jurisprudence ; also : any authoritative Muslim scholar who founds a school of interpretation or is followed as an authority in theology and law
5. : any of various sovereign princes that claim descent from Muhammad and that exercise spiritual and temporal leadership over a Muslim region