Adjacent Words

Hegira definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

HEGI'RA, n. In chronology, an epoch among the Mohammedans, from which they compute time. The event which gave rise to it was the flight of Mohammed from Mecca; from which the magistrates, fearing his impostures might raise a sedition, expelled him, July 10, A.D. 622,under the reign of the emperor Heraclius.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the flight of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 which marked the beginning of the Muslim era; the Muslim calendar begins in that year [syn: Hegira, Hejira]
2: a journey by a large group to escape from a hostile environment [syn: exodus, hegira, hejira]

Merriam Webster's

also hejira noun Etymology: the Hegira, flight of Muhammad from Mecca in A.D. 622, from Medieval Latin, from Arabic hijra, literally, departure Date: 1753 a journey especially when undertaken to escape from a dangerous or undesirable situation ; exodus

Britannica Concise

Flight of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in AD 622 in order to escape persecution and found a community of believers. The date represents the beginning of Islam. The second caliph, Umar I, began the practice of using the event as the starting point for the Muslim calendar; years are now denoted by the initials AH (Latin, Anno Hegirae: "in the year of the Hegira"). The disciples who fled with Muhammad to Medina were called the Companions of the Prophet.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. (also hejira, hijra) 1 (Hegira) a Muhammad's departure from Mecca to Medina in AD 622. b the Muslim era reckoned from this date. 2 a general exodus or departure. Etymology: med.L hegira f. Arab. hijra departure from one's country f. hajara separate

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Hegira He*gi"ra (?; 277), n. [Written also hejira.] [Ar. hijrah flight.] The flight of Mohammed from Mecca, September 13, A. D. 622 (subsequently established as the first year of the Moslem era); hence, any flight or exodus regarded as like that of Mohammed. Note: The starting point of the Era was made to begin, not from the date of the flight, but from the first day of the Arabic year, which corresponds to July 16, A. D. 622.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Flight of Mahomet (September 13, 622). 2. Mahometan era (July 16, 622). 3. Exodus, departure, going out.

Moby Thesaurus

AWOL, French leave, abandonment, absence without leave, absquatulation, bolt, decampment, departure, desertion, disappearance, disappearing act, egress, elopement, escape, evacuation, exit, exodus, flight, fugitation, getaway, going, hasty retreat, leaving, parting, passing, quick exit, removal, retirement, retreat, running away, scramming, skedaddle, skedaddling, walkout, withdrawal