fakir

[ fuh-keer, fey-ker ]

noun

1. a Muslim or Hindu religious ascetic or mendicant monk commonly considered a wonder-worker.
2. a member of any Islamic religious order; dervish.

fakir

/ fəˈkɪə; ˈfeɪkə; fəˈkɪə /

noun

1. a Muslim ascetic who rejects wordly possessions
2. a Hindu ascetic mendicant or holy man

Word History and Origins

Origin of fakir¹

First recorded in 1600–10, fakir is from the Arabic word faqīr “poor”

Word History and Origins

Origin of fakir¹

C17: from Arabic faqīr poor

Example Sentences

Fakir was one of the tightly harmonized voices behind such indelible Motown hits like ‘Baby I Need Your Loving’ and ‘Reach Out I’ll Be There.’

From Los Angeles Times

Abdul “Duke” Fakir, the last surviving member of beloved Motown group The Four Tops, has passed away at the age of 88.

From BBC

The four members of the group, Fakir, Levi Stubbs, Renaldo “Obie” Benson and Lawrence Payton formed in the late 1950s but did not find success until the early 1960s.

From BBC

Fakir, the child of Ethiopian and Bagladeshi immigrants, lived in Detroit his entire life and grew up in a dangerous neighbourhood there, according to the Associated Press.

From BBC

Abdul “Duke” Fakir, the last surviving founding member of the Motown vocal group the Four Tops, has died.

From Los Angeles Times