n.
Pronunciation: ˌ ī - ə - ' t ō -l ə , - ' tä-, - ' t ə -, ' ī - ə - ˌ
Function: noun
Etymology: Persian ā yatoll ā h, literally, sign of God, from Arabic ā yatall ā h, from ā ya sign, miracle + all ā h God
Date: 1950
: a religious leader among Shiite Muslims ― used as a title of respect especially for one who is not an imam