Adjacent Words

Hebrew definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

HE'BREW, n. [Heb. Eber, either a proper name, or a name denoting passage, pilgrimage, or coming from beyond the Euphrates.]
One of the descendants of Eber, or Heber; but particularly, a descendant of Jacob, who was a descendant of Eber; an Israelite; a Jew.
1. The Hebrew language.
HE'BREW, a. Pertaining to the Hebrews; as the Hebrew language or rites.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: of or relating to or characteristic of the Hebrews; "the old Hebrew prophets" [syn: Hebraic, Hebraical, Hebrew]
2: of or relating to the language of the Hebrews; "Hebrew vowels" [syn: Hebraic, Hebraical, Hebrew] n
1: the ancient Canaanitic language of the Hebrews that has been revived as the official language of Israel
2: a person belonging to the worldwide group claiming descent from Jacob (or converted to it) and connected by cultural or religious ties [syn: Jew, Hebrew, Israelite]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English Ebreu, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin Hebraeus, from Latin, adjective, from Greek Hebraios, from Aramaic ‘Ebrai Date: 13th century 1. a. the Semitic language of the ancient Hebrews b. any of various later forms of this language 2. a member of or descendant from one of a group of northern Semitic peoples including the Israelites; especially Israelite • Hebrew adjective

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & adj. --n. 1 a member of a Semitic people orig. centred in ancient Palestine. 2 a the language of this people. b a modern form of this used esp. in Israel. --adj. 1 of or in Hebrew. 2 of the Hebrews or the Jews. Etymology: ME f. OF Ebreu f. med.L Ebreus f. L hebraeus f. Gk Hebraios f. Aram. ' ibray f. Heb. ' ibrî one from the other side (of the river)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Hebrew He"brew, n. [F. H['e]breu, L. Hebraeus, Gr. ?, fr. Heb. 'ibhr[=i].] 1. An appellative of Abraham or of one of his descendants, esp. in the line of Jacob; an Israelite; a Jew. There came one that had escaped and told Abram the Hebrew. --Gen. xiv. 13. 2. The language of the Hebrews; -- one of the Semitic family of languages.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Hebrew He"brew, a. Of or pertaining to the Hebrews; as, the Hebrew language or rites.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

1. Hebrew is a language that was spoken by Jews in former times. A modern form of Hebrew is spoken now in Israel. He is a fluent speaker of Hebrew. 2. Hebrew means belonging to or relating to the Hebrew language or people. ...the respected Hebrew newspaper Haarez... ADJ

Easton's Bible Dictionary

a name applied to the Israelites in Scripture only by one who is a foreigner (Gen. 39:14, 17; 41:12, etc.), or by the Israelites when they speak of themselves to foreigners (40:15; Ex. 1:19), or when spoken of an contrasted with other peoples (Gen. 43:32; Ex. 1:3, 7, 15; Deut. 15:12). In the New Testament there is the same contrast between Hebrews and foreigners (Acts 6:1; Phil. 3:5).

Derivation. (1.) The name is derived, according to some, from Eber (Gen. 10:24), the ancestor of Abraham. The Hebrews are "sons of Eber" (10:21).

(2.) Others trace the name of a Hebrew root-word signifying "to pass over," and hence regard it as meaning "the man who passed over," viz., the Euphrates; or to the Hebrew word meaning "the region" or "country beyond," viz., the land of Chaldea. This latter view is preferred. It is the more probable origin of the designation given to Abraham coming among the Canaanites as a man from beyond the Euphrates (Gen. 14:13).

(3.) A third derivation of the word has been suggested, viz., that it is from the Hebrew word _'abhar_, "to pass over," whence _'ebher_, in the sense of a "sojourner" or "passer through" as distinct from a "settler" in the land, and thus applies to the condition of Abraham (Heb. 11:13).

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Israelite, Jew. 2. Hebrew language. II. a. Jewish, Israelitish.