Donme
/ˈdɒn.meɪ/noun
A member of a Jewish sect in the Ottoman Empire that followed Sabbatai Zevi and outwardly converted to Islam while retaining elements of Jewish belief and practice.
Did you know?The Dönme emerged after Sabbatai Zevi proclaimed himself the Jewish messiah and converted to Islam in 1666, prompting some followers to imitate the conversion while preserving secret traditions.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Turkic
Proto-Turkic
*dön-
“To turn, rotate, or change direction”
Old Anatolian Turkish
Turkish
dönmek
“To turn, return, or change allegiance”
17th Century
Ottoman Turkish
dönme
“One who has turned or converted; a term applied to followers who converted to Islam”
1666–17th Century
Ottoman Turkish
Dönme
“A follower of Sabbatai Zevi who outwardly became Muslim while maintaining a distinct communal identity”
19th–20th Century
English
Dönmeh / Donmeh
“An English rendering for members of the Sabbatean sect and their descendants”
Modern English
English
Donme
“A historical term for the Sabbatean crypto-Jewish community of the Ottoman world”