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n. 1. A long backless sofa, especially one set with pillows against a wall. 2. (also dī-văn) a. A counting room, tribunal, or public audience room in Muslim countries. b. The seat used by an administrator when holding audience. c. A government bureau or council chamber. 3. (also dī-văn) A coffeehouse or smoking room. 4. (also dī-văn) A book of poems, especially one written in Arabic or Persian by a single author. [French, from Ottoman Turkish dīvān, from Persian, archive, chancery, government office, poet's divan, from Middle Persian dīwān, collection of documents, archive, from Old Persian *dipivahanam, document house : dipi-, writing, inscription (from Akkadian ṭuppu, clay tablet for cuneiform writing, from Sumerian dub) + vahanam, house; see wes-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]  (click for a larger image) divan |
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