Parsee

or Par·si

[ pahr-see, pahr-see ]

noun

1. an Indian Zoroastrian descended from Persian Zoroastrians who went to India in the 7th and 8th centuries to escape Muslim persecution.
2. the Middle Persian dialect of the Parsee scriptures.

Parsee

/ ˈpɑːsiː /

noun

1. an adherent of a monotheistic religion of Zoroastrian origin, the practitioners of which were driven out of Persia by the Muslims in the eighth century ad . It is now found chiefly in western India

adjective

1. of or relating to the Parsees or their religion

Derived Forms

• ˈParseeˌism, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Parsee¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Persian Pārsī “a Persian; Persian language,” equivalent to Pārs Persia (from Old Persian Pārsā) + -ī a suffix indicating relationship or origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of Parsee¹

C17: from Persian Pārsī a Persian, from Old Persian Pārsa Persia

Example Sentences

The incendiary law grants Indian citizenship to persecuted Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Jains, Parsees and Christians from a few nearby countries.

From New York Times

The legislation would create an easier path to citizenship for people of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsee and Christian faiths — but not for Muslims.

From Washington Post

Under the new law, Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Parsees, Buddhists and Jains would have an expedited path to citizenship even if they fail the citizenship test.

From New York Times

The new citizenship legislation, called the Citizenship Amendment Act, expedites Indian citizenship for migrants from some of India’s neighboring countries if they are Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh, Parsee or Jain.

From New York Times

The citizenship bill would allow Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsees or Jains who have migrated from Bangladesh, Pakistan or Afghanistan a clear path to naturalization in India.

From New York Times