divan
Other forms: divans
A divan is a piece of furniture you might have in your living room — it's a low sofa without a back, sort of like an upholstered bench. Famously, Sigmund Freud's patients reclined on a divan during psychoanalysis.
The word divan comes from Turkish, and its meaning, "long, cushioned seat," evolved from "book of accounts" to "council chamber" and finally to a type of seating that's common in council chambers in the Middle East. Occasionally people mean a bed with box-springs when they talk about a divan, but it usually refers to a seat with cushions for leaning against.
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a long backless sofa (usually with pillows against a wall)
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a Muslim council of statesynonyms: diwantype of:privy councilan advisory council to a ruler (especially to the British Crown)
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a Muslim council chamber or law courtsynonyms: diwantype of:boardroom, council chambera room where a committee meets (such as the board of directors of a company)chambera room where a judge transacts business
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a collection of Persian or Arabic poems (usually by one author)
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Vocabulary lists containing divan
Words like "desk" and "chair" are so drab and commonplace that we pay them no mind. Give your vocabulary a makeover with these words for furniture that will have you sounding like a famous interior designer.
In this play inspired by the Greek myth of Pygmalion, Professor Henry Higgins bets that he can transform Eliza Doolittle, a poor flower seller, into a cultured and genteel lady.
Considered a classic of Modernist literature, this unpredictable poem is a collage of voices and languages that explores British society and myths of devastated civilizations.