Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A decree or edict of an Oriental sovereign, as of Turkey, issued for various special purposes, as to provide protection and assistance for a traveler, or to sanction an enterprise and prescribe its conditions; a passport; a permit; a license; a grant.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun In Turkey and some other Oriental countries, a decree or mandate issued by the sovereign; a royal order or grant; -- generally given for special objects, as to a traveler to insure him protection and assistance.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A royal decree issued by a sovereign in certain historical Islamic states, especially by the Sultan of Turkey.
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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The French missionaries had, in fact, a narrow escape of expulsion through the hostility of the Russian Government, which even proceeded to the length of extorting a firman from the late Shah prohibiting Christians from changing their religion.
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"Show me the forgery you dare to call the firman of his sublime majesty, the sultan."
Jack Harkaway's Boy Tinker Among The Turks Book Number Fifteen in the Jack Harkaway Series Bracebridge Hemyng 1871
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In consequence, the present firman, which is ornamented at the head with our 'Hoomaioon' (sign-manual), and emanates from our Imperial
Diaries of Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore, Volume I Comprising Their Life and Work as Recorded in Their Diaries From 1812 to 1883 Moses Montefiore 1834
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Officially, Elgin obtained a 'firman' from the Ottoman authorities but when the British Parliament asked to examine it, he couldn't submit it.
Eight Reasons: Why the Parthenon Sculptures must be returned to Greece 2009
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His presence calmed the storm at once and he sternly bade Ibrahim to obey the "firman," on peril of his own head.
Recollections With Photogravure Portrait of the Author and a number of Original Letters, of which one by George Meredith and another by Robert Louis Stevenson are reproduced in facsimile David Christie Murray
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Mohhammad Ali replied that he would release all the prisoners, upon which, Sir Moses said his desire was to have the guilty punished, and requested therefore a "firman" to go to Damascus.
Diaries of Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore, Volume I Comprising Their Life and Work as Recorded in Their Diaries From 1812 to 1883 Moses Montefiore 1834
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In reply to his application for a simple "firman" to go to Damascus, the
Diaries of Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore, Volume I Comprising Their Life and Work as Recorded in Their Diaries From 1812 to 1883 Moses Montefiore 1834
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Success attended him, and the pacha, his predecessor, having in his opinion, as well as in that of the sultan, remained an unusual time in office, by an accusation enforced by a thousand purses of gold, he was enabled to produce a bowstring for his benefactor; and the sultan's "firman" appointed him to the vacant pachalik.
The Pacha of Many Tales Frederick Marryat 1820
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'firman' from the Porte, was commended to the famous ambassador Lord
Victorian Worthies Sixteen Biographies George Henry Blore
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The Christian sects began to squabble among themselves, which they continue to do to the present day, and in 1767 the Sublime Porte issued a firman dividing the church among the disputants.
The City With the Big Ego Paul Levy 2011
chained_bear commented on the word firman
"'...except in cases of total rebellion, I say, the Sultan's direct appointment is respected in these parts, when at last it is forthcoming in the form of an iradé or firman,' said Graham. 'The Sultan's iradé is sacred, except to rebels.'"
--Patrick O'Brian, The Ionian Mission, 261
A Sea of Words: An edict or order issued by an Oriental sovereign, especially the sultan of Turkey, but also by the bashaws of North Africa; a grant, license, passport, permit. (198) (And this is copied pretty closely from the OED definition.)
February 14, 2008