Alawite
4
9.9
- adjective
- /ˈæl.əˌwaɪt/
:
alauita
- Anti-regime demonstrations reportedly erupted last week among the Alawite inhabitants of the coastal city of Lattakia.
- Alawite regime
Examples
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More recently, Rifat Eid, head of Tripoli's Alawite Arab Democratic Party, described the city as the "Lebanese Kandahar."
Academic text (2011) -
Some Middle East specialists mutter about the possibility that a future Alawite state will be carved out of Syria.
Blog text (1) -
They feel relatively more secure in Syria under the present Alawite regime.
Academic text (1995) -
Indeed, Assad's priority may be keeping power for himself and the minority Alawite sect that runs Syria.
Academic text (1996) -
Ninety-two percent of the Alawite respondents expressed having fears regionally.
Academic text (1995) -
Most successful was Syria's Alawite community, which dominated the apex of the country's political power and controlled the army, the indispensable tool of illegitimate coercion.
Academic text (1991) -
Assad belongs to the ruling Alawite minority, a sect outside mainstream Islam seen by fundamentalist Sunnis as heretical.
Blog text (27) -
The festival celebrated the rich traditions of the Alawite community in Syria.
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Many Alawite families have distinct cultural practices that set them apart from other groups.
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The Alawite religion includes unique beliefs and rituals that are deeply rooted in history.
Synonyms
Relating to the beliefs, customs, or culture of the Alawi community
Surface Forms
Etymology
Alawite comes from the Arabic Alawi, meaning 'of Ali' or 'follower of Ali', an important early leader in Islam. The English ending -ite shows belonging to a group, so Alawite is used for things that relate to that community.