divan
divan Lexical Profile
divan Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A long, backless sofa or couch, typically placed against a wall, which lacks armrests and can sometimes be used as a bed.
"She reclined comfortably on the velvet divan while reading her novel."
A historical council of state, government department, or privy council in the Middle East and North Africa, particularly within the Ottoman Empire.
"The sultan summoned the grand vizier to the divan to discuss matters of taxation and defense."
A collection of poems by a single author, particularly in classical Persian, Arabic, or Urdu literature.
"The Divan of Hafez remains one of the most celebrated and studied collections in Persian poetry."
Word Nuance & Usage
In modern British English, 'divan' often refers specifically to a box-spring bed base, sometimes containing built-in storage drawers, rather than a traditional living room sofa.
• Rhymes for divan
Word Origin & Etymology
From Turkish 'divan', derived from Persian 'dīwān'. Originally meaning an account book or register, it evolved to refer to a government council, then the chamber where the council met, and eventually the long, cushioned seats typically lining the walls of such rooms.