Califate
/ˈkælɪfeɪt/noun
A rare historical form or variant related to caliphate, meaning the rule or office of a caliph.
Did you know?The core Arabic root behind this word, ḫ-l-f, is the same root behind words for “following,” “coming after,” and “succeeding,” so the title was built around the idea of being the Prophet’s rightful successor.
Etymological Timeline
Arabic
Arabic
خليفة (khalīfa)
“successor, deputy, or representative”
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
خلافة (khilāfa)
“the office or rule of a successor; caliphate”
Medieval Latin
Latin
calipha / califa
“a caliph; sometimes the caliphate as a political-religious institution”
Middle French / Old Italian
Romance
califat / califato
“caliphate, the dominion of a caliph”
English
English
califate
“an archaic variant spelling for caliphate”