a·ya·tol·lah 
(ī′yə-tōlə, -tō-lä)
(ī′yə-tōlə, -tō-lä)n.
Islam
Islam
1. A high-ranking Shiite religious authority regarded as worthy of imitation in matters of religious law and interpretation.
2. Used as a title for such a leader.
[Persian āyatollāh, from Arabic 'āyatu llāh, sign of God : 'āyatu, bound form of 'āya, sign, Koranic verse; see ʾwy in the Appendix of Semitic roots + allāh, Allah; see ALLAH.]