Druʹses (2 syl.)

A people of Syria governed by emirs. Their faith is a mixture of the Pentateuch, the Gospel, the Koran, and Sufism. They offer up their devotions both in mosques and churches, worship the images of saints, and yet observe the fast of Ramʹadan. Their language is pure Arabic. (Hakem, the incarnate spirit, was assisted by Darăsi in propounding his religion to these Syrians; and the word Druse is said to be derived from Darasi, shortened into Dʹrasi.)