[ 'mα:di ]
■ noun ( plural ~s )
1》 (in popular Muslim belief) a spiritual and temporal leader who will rule before the end of the world and restore religion and justice.
↘a person claiming to be this leader, notably Muhammad Ahmad of Dongola in Sudan (1843–85).
2》 (in Shiite belief) the twelfth imam, who is expected to return and triumph over injustice.
Derivatives
~sm noun
~st noun & adjective
Origin
from Arab. (al-)mahdī 'he who is guided in the right way'.