wali

Alternative forms

• wāli
• vali (via Turkish)

Etymology

Borrowed from Arabic وَالٍ‎ (wālin).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈwɑːliː/

Noun

wali (plural walis)

1. A provincial governor in certain Islamic countries.
   • 1974, Lawrence Durrell, Monsieur, Faber & Faber 1992, page 130:

     You see the shrine was founded in memory of a great Wali, seer, holy man – but apparently a Mohammedan.

   • 2007 November 2, Jane Perlez, “Militants Draw New Front Line Inside Pakistan”, in New York Times‎:

     For much of the last century, the mountainous region of Swat was ruled as a princely kingdom where a benign autocrat, the wali, bestowed schools for girls, health care for everyone and the chance to get a degree abroad for the talented.

Anagrams

• wail, wila

Etymology

From Arabic وَالِي‎ (wālī).

Noun

wali

1. custodian
2. guardian
3. plenipotentiary
4. wali (provincial governor)

Etymology

From Malagasy vary (“uncooked rice”).

Noun

wali (u class, no plural)

1. cooked rice

Noun

wali

1. plural of mwali