noun
- A public building in Ottoman Turkey that provided food and lodging to travelers and the poor; a hospice or inn.
Usage: historical; also spelled imarett
Examples
- The imaret served as a refuge for weary pilgrims traveling through the Ottoman Empire.
- Many imarets were built near mosques to provide charitable assistance to the community.
- The architecture of the imaret reflected the Islamic principles of hospitality and charity.
- Travelers would rest at the imaret before continuing their journey along the trade routes.