dhimmitude
/ˈdɪmɪtjuːd/
noun
Origin
Arabic
dhimma — protection, obligation, pact
Overview
Meaning Now
- A neologism describing the status of non-Muslims (dhimmis) living under Islamic rule, often used in modern political discourse to imply a state of subservience or appeasement.
Literal older meaning
The state or condition of being a dhimmi.
Language path
Arabic → French → English
Earliest form
dhimmitude
Earliest period
late 20th century
Journey
The term derives from the Islamic legal concept of 'dhimma', which governed the rights and obligations of the 'dhimmi'—Christians, Jews, and other protected monotheistic subjects living under Islamic governance. In contemporary discourse, the neologism 'dhimmitude' is frequently used by critics to characterize Western political or cultural capitulation to perceived Islamist agendas.
Evolution
- Classical Arabic
dhimma
“covenant of protection granted to non-Muslim subjects”
Foundation for the dhimmi status.
- 1980s French
dhimmitude
“state of being a dhimmi”
Coined by Bat Ye'or to describe the conditions of protected minorities.
- 21st Century English
dhimmitude
“political subservience or perceived appeasement”
Extended usage in Western political debate.
Connections
Word parts
dhimmi
root
protected non-Muslim subject
-tude
suffix
denoting a state or condition
Related across languages
Arabic
dhimma
covenant, protection
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Related to dhimmitude
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.