Shiva
1 of 2noun (1)
Shi·va ˈshi-və 
ˈshē-
variants or less commonly Siva
ˈsi-və
ˈshi-,
ˈsē-,
ˈshē-
: the god of destruction and regeneration in the Hindu sacred triad compare brahma entry 1, vishnu
shiva
2 of 2noun (2)
shi·va ˈshi-və
variants or less commonly shivah or Shiva or Shivah
: a traditional seven-day period of mourning the death of a family member that is observed in Jewish homes
Details about the funeral and shiva have not yet been finalized.
Alyssa Fisher
Alyssa FisherThe observance of Shiva is traced to the dawn of Jewish history. The Torah relates that Joseph mourned the death of Jacob his father for seven days. Zalman Goldstein
—often used in the phrase sit shiva Zalman GoldsteinWe're going to say kaddish, sit shiva and eat poundcake for a week Gary David Goldberg
Gary David GoldbergShe's sitting shivah for her father. She doesn't want to be disturbed. Etgar Keret
Etgar Keret… the comedy centers on a dysfunctional family that is forced to reunite when their father requests they sit Shivah for seven days following his death. Dave Trumbore
Dave Trumbore
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 The day after the end of shivah, Grossman returned to his novel. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 The day after the end of shivah, Grossman returned to his novel. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 The day after the end of shivah, Grossman returned to his novel. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 The day after the end of shivah, Grossman returned to his novel. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 The day after the end of shivah, Grossman returned to his novel. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 The day after the end of shivah, Grossman returned to his novel. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 The day after the end of shivah, Grossman returned to his novel. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 See More
Noun
During the seven days of Jewish mourning, or shivah, thousands of visitors came to sit with the Grossmans, writers and politicians and ordinary people, while their closest friends organized the shopping and cooking, and local restaurants sent food. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 The day after the end of shivah, Grossman returned to his novel. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 The day after the end of shivah, Grossman returned to his novel. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 The day after the end of shivah, Grossman returned to his novel. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 The day after the end of shivah, Grossman returned to his novel. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 The day after the end of shivah, Grossman returned to his novel. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 The day after the end of shivah, Grossman returned to his novel. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 The day after the end of shivah, Grossman returned to his novel. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Sanskrit Śiva
Noun (2)
Hebrew shibhʽāh seven (days)
First Known Use
Noun (1)
1788, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
1865, in the meaning defined above