Alawite


A·la·wite

A5184150 (ä′lə-wīt′) also A·la·wi (ä′lä-wē′)n. pl. A·la·wites also A·la·wis or Alawi A member of a branch of Shiism practiced especially in northwest Syria and adjacent parts of Turkey and Lebanon.
[Arabic 'alawī, follower of Ali, Alawite (from 'Alī, Ali ibn Abi Talib + -awī, variant of -ī, adj. suff.) + -ite.]