sophi

alternative sophy · alternative sophoi

1. obsoletepluralplural onlyWise men; sages.

   Valladolid, our Athens gins to tast Of thy ranck filth, Camphire and Lettuce chast, Are cleane casheird, now Sophi Ringoes eate, Candid Potatoes, are Athenians meate.

   1598: John Marston, The Scourge of Villanie, Three Books of Satyres, volume 1, chapter 3, page 181 (1966 republication)

alternative sophy · alternative sophoi

1. obsoleteuncountableObsolete form of Sufi.

   Iſhmael, who conquered Perſia, was himſelf a ſophi, and greatly valued himſelf on his being ſo. He choſe all the guards of his perſon from among the religious of this order; and would have all the great lords of his court ſophis.

   1728, Ephraim Chambers, editor, Cyclopædia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences, 1st edition, volume 2, London: printed for J. and J. Knapton [et al.], →OCLC, page 97

plural Sophis

1. archaicArchaic spelling of Sufi.

   Others derive Sophi from the Sophi or Sages anciently called Magi.

   1728, Ephraim Chambers, editor, Cyclopædia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences, 1st edition, volume 2, London: printed for J. and J. Knapton [et al.], →OCLC, page 97

2. archaicArchaic spelling of Safawi.

   The Safavid shahs were commonly termed by Western writers "Sophie", "Sophy", "Sophi" or "Soffi". All these terms were probably corruptions of Ṣafī, the name of the founder of the Safavid Order, rather than of Ṣūfī, as the Safavid supporters called themselves.

   1980, Roger Savory, Iran under the Safavids, Cambridge [u.a.]: Cambridge University Press, published 2007, →ISBN, page 259