Adjacent Words

House definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

HOUSE, n. hous. [L. casa; Heb. to put on, to cover.]
1. In a general sense, a building or shed intended or used as a habitation or shelter for animals of any kind; but appropriately, a building or edifice for the habitation of man; a dwelling place, mansion or abode for any of the human species. It may be of any size and composed of any materials whatever, wood, stone, brick, etc.
2. An edifice or building appropriated to the worship of God; a temple; a church; as the house of God.
3. A monastery; a college; as a religious house.
4. The manner of living; the table.
He keeps a good house, or a miserable house.
5. In astrology, the station of a planet in the heavens, or the twelfth part of the heavens.
6. A family of ancestors; descendants and kindred; a race of persons from the same stock; a tribe. It particularly denotes a noble family or an illustrious race; as the house of Austria; the house of Hanover. So in Scripture, the house of Israel,or of Judah.
Two of a house few ages can afford.
7. One of the estates of a kingdom assembled in parliament or legislature; a body of men united in their legislative capacity, and holding their place by right or by election. Thus we say, the house of lords or peers of Great Britain; the house of commons; the house of representatives. In most of the United States, the legislatures consist of two houses, the senate, and the house of representatives or delegates.
8. The quorum of a legislative body; the number of representatives assembled who are constitutionally empowered to enact laws. Hence we say, there is a sufficient number of representatives present to form a house.
9. In Scripture, those who dwell in a house and compose a family; a household.
Cornelius was a devout man, and feared God with all his house. Acts 10.
10. Wealth; estate.
Ye devour widows' houses. Matthew 23.
11. The grave; as the house appointed for all living. Job 30.
12. Household affairs; domestic concerns.
Set thy house in order. 2 Kings 20.
13. The body; the residence of the soul in this world; as our earthly house. 2 Corinthians 5.
14. The church among the Jews.
Moses was faithful in all his house. Hebrews 3.
15. A place of residence. Egypt is called the house of bondage. Exodus 13.
16. A square, or division on a chess board.
HOUSE, v.t. houz. To cover from the inclemencies of the weather; to shelter; to protect by covering; as, to house wood; to house farming utensils; to house cattle.
1. To admit to residence; to harbor.
Palladius wished him to house all the Helots.
2. To deposit and cover, as in the grave.
3. To drive to a shelter.
HOUSE, v.i. houz. To take shelter or lodgings; to keep abode; to reside.
To house with darkness and with death.
1. To have an astrological station in the heavens.
Where Saturn houses.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families; "he has a house on Cape Cod"; "she felt she had to get out of the house"
2: the members of a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments; "he worked for a brokerage house" [syn: firm, house, business firm]
3: the members of a religious community living together
4: the audience gathered together in a theatre or cinema; "the house applauded"; "he counted the house"
5: an official assembly having legislative powers; "a bicameral legislature has two houses"
6: aristocratic family line; "the House of York"
7: play in which children take the roles of father or mother or children and pretend to interact like adults; "the children were playing house"
8: (astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided [syn: sign of the zodiac, star sign, sign, mansion, house, planetary house]
9: the management of a gambling house or casino; "the house gets a percentage of every bet"
10: a social unit living together; "he moved his family to Virginia"; "It was a good Christian household"; "I waited until the whole house was asleep"; "the teacher asked how many people made up his home" [syn: family, household, house, home, menage]
11: a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented; "the house was full" [syn: theater, theatre, house]
12: a building in which something is sheltered or located; "they had a large carriage house" v
1: contain or cover; "This box houses the gears"
2: provide housing for; "The immigrants were housed in a new development outside the town" [syn: house, put up, domiciliate]

Merriam Webster's

biographical name Edward Mandell 1858-1938 Colonel House American diplomat

Merriam Webster's

I. noun (plural houses) Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English hous, from Old English h?s; akin to Old High German h?s house Date: before 12th century 1. a building that serves as living quarters for one or a few families ; home 2. a. (1) a shelter or refuge (as a nest or den) of a wild animal (2) a natural covering (as a test or shell) that encloses and protects an animal or a colony of zooids b. a building in which something is housed <a carriage house> 3. a. one of the 12 equal sectors in which the celestial sphere is divided in astrology b. a zodiacal sign that is the seat of a planet's greatest influence 4. a. household b. a family including ancestors, descendants, and kindred <the house of Tudor> 5. a. a residence for a religious community or for students b. the community or students in residence 6. a. a legislative, deliberative, or consultative assembly; especially one constituting a division of a bicameral body b. the building or chamber where such an assembly meets c. a quorum of such an assembly 7. a. a place of business or entertainment <a movie house> b. (1) a business organization <a publishing house> (2) a gambling establishment c. the audience in a theater or concert hall <a full house on opening night> 8. the circular area 12 feet in diameter surrounding the tee and within which a curling stone must rest in order to count 9. [from The Warehouse, Chicago dance club that pioneered the style] a type of dance music mixed by a disc jockey that features overdubbing with a heavy repetitive drumbeat and repeated electronic melody lines • houseful noun • houseless adjective • houselessness noun II. verb (housed; housing) Date: before 12th century transitive verb 1. a. to provide with living quarters or shelter b. to store in a house 2. to encase, enclose, or shelter as if by putting in a house 3. to serve as a shelter or container for ; contain <buildings that house government offices> intransitive verb to take shelter ; lodge

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. (pl.) 1 a a building for human habitation. b (attrib.) (of an animal) kept in, frequenting, or infesting houses (house-cat; housefly). 2 a building for a special purpose (opera-house; summer-house). 3 a building for keeping animals or goods (hen-house). 4 a a religious community. b the buildings occupied by it. 5 a a body of pupils living in the same building at a boarding-school. b such a building. c a division of a day-school for games, competitions, etc. 6 a a college of a university. b (the House) Christ Church, Oxford. 7 a family, esp. a royal family; a dynasty (House of York). 8 a a firm or institution. b its place of business. c (the House) Brit. colloq. the Stock Exchange. 9 a a legislative or deliberative assembly. b the building where it meets. c (the House) (in the UK) the House of Commons or Lords; (in the US) the House of Representatives. 10 a an audience in a theatre, cinema, etc. b a performance in a theatre or cinema (second house starts at 9 o'clock). c a theatre. 11 Astrol. a twelfth part of the heavens. 12 (attrib.) living in a hospital as a member of staff (house officer; house physician; house surgeon). 13 a a place of public refreshment, a restaurant or inn (coffee-house; public house). b (attrib.) (of wine) selected by the management of a restaurant, hotel, etc. to be offered at a special price. 14 US a brothel. 15 Sc. a dwelling that is one of several in a building. 16 Brit. sl. = HOUSEY-HOUSEY. 17 an animal's den, shell, etc. 18 (the House) Brit. hist. euphem. the workhouse. --v.tr. 1 provide (a person, a population, etc.) with a house or houses or other accommodation. 2 store (goods etc.). 3 enclose or encase (a part or fitting). 4 fix in a socket, mortise, etc. Phrases and idioms: as safe as houses thoroughly or completely safe. house-agent Brit. an agent for the sale and letting of houses. house and home (as an emphatic) home. house arrest detention in one's own house etc., not in prison. house-broken = house-trained. house church 1 a charismatic church independent of traditional denominations. 2 a group meeting in a house as part of the activities of a church. house-dog a dog kept to guard a house. house-father a man in charge of a house, esp. of a home for children. house-flag a flag indicating to what firm a ship belongs. house guest a guest staying for some days in a private house. house-hunting seeking a house to live in. house-husband a husband who carries out the household duties traditionally carried out by a housewife. house lights the lights in the auditorium of a theatre. house magazine a magazine published by a firm and dealing mainly with its own activities. house-martin a black and white swallow-like bird, Delichon urbica, which builds a mud nest on house walls etc. house-mother a woman in charge of a house, esp. of a home for children. house of cards 1 an insecure scheme etc. 2 a structure built (usu. by a child) out of playing cards. House of Commons (in the UK) the elected chamber of Parliament. house of God a church, a place of worship. house of ill fame archaic a brothel. House of Keys (in the Isle of Man) the elected chamber of Tynwald. House of Lords 1 (in the UK) the chamber of Parliament composed of peers and bishops. 2 a committee of specially qualified members of this appointed as the ultimate judicial appeal court. House of Representatives the lower house of the US Congress and other legislatures. house-parent a house-mother or house-father. house party a group of guests staying at a country house etc. house-plant a plant grown indoors. house-proud attentive to, or unduly preoccupied with, the care and appearance of the home. Houses of Parliament 1 the Houses of Lords and Commons regarded together. 2 the buildings where they meet. house sparrow a common brown and grey sparrow, Passer domesticus, which nests in the eaves and roofs of houses. house style a particular printer's or publisher's etc. preferred way of presentation. house-to-house performed at or carried to each house in turn. house-trained Brit. 1 (of animals) trained to be clean in the house. 2 colloq. well-mannered. house-warming a party celebrating a move to a new home. keep house provide for or manage a household. keep (or make) a House secure the presence of enough members for a quorum in the House of Commons. keep open house provide general hospitality. keep to the house (or keep the house) stay indoors. like a house on fire 1 vigorously, fast. 2 successfully, excellently. on the house at the management's expense, free. play house play at being a family in its home. put (or set) one's house in order make necessary reforms. set up house begin to live in a separate dwelling. Derivatives: houseful n. (pl. -fuls). houseless adj. Etymology: OE hus, husian, f. Gmc

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

House House, n.; pl. Houses. [OE. hous, hus, AS. h?s; akin to OS. & OFries. h?s, D. huis, OHG. h?s, G. haus, Icel. h?s, Sw. hus, Dan. huus, Goth. gudh?s, house of God, temple; and prob. to E. hide to conceal. See Hide, and cf. Hoard, Husband, Hussy, Husting.] 1. A structure intended or used as a habitation or shelter for animals of any kind; but especially, a building or edifice for the habitation of man; a dwelling place, a mansion. Houses are built to live in; not to look on. --Bacon. Bees with smoke and doves with noisome stench Are from their hives and houses driven away. --Shak. 2. Household affairs; domestic concerns; particularly in the phrase to keep house. See below. 3. Those who dwell in the same house; a household. One that feared God with all his house. --Acts x. 2. 4. A family of ancestors, descendants, and kindred; a race of persons from the same stock; a tribe; especially, a noble family or an illustrious race; as, the house of Austria; the house of Hanover; the house of Israel. The last remaining pillar of their house, The one transmitter of their ancient name. --Tennyson. 5. One of the estates of a kingdom or other government assembled in parliament or legislature; a body of men united in a legislative capacity; as, the House of Lords; the House of Commons; the House of Representatives; also, a quorum of such a body. See Congress, and Parliament. 6. (Com.) A firm, or commercial establishment. 7. A public house; an inn; a hotel. 8. (Astrol.) A twelfth part of the heavens, as divided by six circles intersecting at the north and south points of the horizon, used by astrologers in noting the positions of the heavenly bodies, and casting horoscopes or nativities. The houses were regarded as fixed in respect to the horizon, and numbered from the one at the eastern horizon, called the ascendant, first house, or house of life, downward, or in the direction of the earth's revolution, the stars and planets passing through them in the reverse order every twenty-four hours. 9. A square on a chessboard, regarded as the proper place of a piece. 10. An audience; an assembly of hearers, as at a lecture, a theater, etc.; as, a thin or a full house. 11. The body, as the habitation of the soul. This mortal house I'll ruin, Do C[ae]sar what he can. --Shak. 12. Usage: [With an adj., as narrow, dark, etc.] The grave. ``The narrow house.'' --Bryant. Note: House is much used adjectively and as the first element of compounds. The sense is usually obvious; as, house cricket, housemaid, house painter, housework. House ant (Zo["o]l.), a very small, yellowish brown ant (Myrmica molesta), which often infests houses, and sometimes becomes a great pest. House of bishops (Prot. Epis. Ch.), one of the two bodies composing a general convertion, the other being House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. House boat, a covered boat used as a dwelling. House of call, a place, usually a public house, where journeymen connected with a particular trade assemble when out of work, ready for the call of employers. [Eng.]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

House House, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Housed; p. pr. & vb. n. Housing.] [AS. h?sian.] 1. To take or put into a house; to shelter under a roof; to cover from the inclemencies of the weather; to protect by covering; as, to house one's family in a comfortable home; to house farming utensils; to house cattle. At length have housed me in a humble shed. --Young. House your choicest carnations, or rather set them under a penthouse. --Evelyn. 2. To drive to a shelter. --Shak. 3. To admit to residence; to harbor. Palladius wished him to house all the Helots. --Sir P. Sidney. 4. To deposit and cover, as in the grave. --Sandys. 5. (Naut.) To stow in a safe place; to take down and make safe; as, to house the upper spars.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

House House, v. i. 1. To take shelter or lodging; to abide to dwell; to lodge. You shall not house with me. --Shak. 2. (Astrol.) To have a position in one of the houses. See House, n., 8. ``Where Saturn houses.'' --Dryden.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(housing, housed) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. A house is a building in which people live, usually the people belonging to one family. She has moved to a smaller house. ...her parents' house in Warwickshire. N-COUNT 2. You can refer to all the people who live together in a house as the house. If he set his alarm clock for midnight, it would wake the whole house... = household N-SING: usu the N 3. House is used in the names of types of places where people go to eat and drink. ...a steak house. ...an old Salzburg coffee house. N-COUNT: n N 4. House is used in the names of types of companies, especially ones which publish books, lend money, or design clothes. Many of the clothes come from the world's top fashion houses... Eventually she was fired from her job at a publishing house. N-COUNT: n N 5. House is sometimes used in the names of office buildings and large private homes or expensive houses. (mainly BRIT) I was to go to the very top floor of Bush House in Aldwych. ...Harewood House near Leeds. N-IN-NAMES: n N 6. You can refer to the two main bodies of Britain's parliament and the United States of America's legislature as the House or a House. Some members of the House and Senate worked all day yesterday... N-COUNT 7. A house is a family which has been or will be important for many generations, especially the family of a king or queen. ...the House of Windsor. N-COUNT: with supp 8. The house is the part of a theatre, cinema, or other place of entertainment where the audience sits. You can also refer to the audience at a particular performance as the house. They played in front of a packed house. N-COUNT 9. A restaurant's house wine is the cheapest wine it sells, which is not listed by name on the wine list. Tweed ordered a carafe of the house wine. ADJ: ADJ n 10. To house someone means to provide a house or flat for them to live in. Part III of the Housing Act 1985 imposes duties on local authorities to house homeless people... Regrettably we have to house families in these inadequate flats. VERB: V n, V n adv/prep 11. A building or container that houses something is the place where it is located or from where it operates. The château itself is open to the public and houses a museum of motorcycles and cars... VERB: no cont, V n 12. If you say that a building houses a number of people, you mean that is the place where they live or where they are staying. The building will house twelve boys and eight girls... = accommodate VERB: no cont, V n 13. see also boarding house, chapter house, clearing house, council house, doll's house, full house, open house, opera house, public house, Wendy house, White House 14. If a person or their performance or speech brings the house down, the audience claps, laughs, or shouts loudly because the performance or speech is very impressive or amusing. (INFORMAL) It's really an amazing dance. It just always brings the house down. PHRASE: V inflects 15. If two people get on like a house on fire, they quickly become close friends, for example because they have many interests in common. (INFORMAL) PHRASE: V inflects 16. If you are given something in a restaurant or bar on the house, you do not have to pay for it. The owner knew about the engagement and brought them glasses of champagne on the house. PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v 17. If someone gets their house in order, puts their house in order, or sets their house in order, they arrange their affairs and solve their problems. Some think Stempel's departure will help the company get its financial house in order... PHRASE: V inflects

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Till their sojourn in Egypt the Hebrews dwelt in tents. They then for the first time inhabited cities (Gen. 47:3; Ex. 12:7; Heb. 11:9). From the earliest times the Assyrians and the Canaanites were builders of cities. The Hebrews after the Conquest took possession of the captured cities, and seem to have followed the methods of building that had been pursued by the Canaanites. Reference is made to the stone (1 Kings 7:9; Isa. 9:10) and marble (1 Chr. 29:2) used in building, and to the internal wood-work of the houses (1 Kings 6:15; 7:2; 10:11, 12; 2 Chr. 3:5; Jer. 22:14). "Ceiled houses" were such as had beams inlaid in the walls to which wainscotting was fastened (Ezra 6:4; Jer. 22:14; Hag. 1:4). "Ivory houses" had the upper parts of the walls adorned with figures in stucco with gold and ivory (1 Kings 22:39; 2 Chr. 3:6; Ps. 45:8).

The roofs of the dwelling-houses were flat, and are often alluded to in Scripture (2 Sam. 11:2; Isa. 22:1; Matt. 24:17). Sometimes tents or booths were erected on them (2 Sam. 16:22). They were protected by parapets or low walls (Deut. 22:8). On the house-tops grass sometimes grew (Prov. 19:13; 27:15; Ps. 129:6, 7). They were used, not only as places of recreation in the evening, but also sometimes as sleeping-places at night (1 Sam. 9:25, 26; 2 Sam. 11:2; 16:22; Dan. 4:29; Job 27:18; Prov. 21:9), and as places of devotion (Jer. 32:29; 19:13).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hous (bayith; oikos, in classical Greek generally "an estate," oikia, oikema (literally, "habitation"), in Ac 12:1, "prison"):

I. CAVE DWELLINGS

II. STONE-BUILT AND MUD/BRICK-BUILT HOUSES

1. Details of Plan and Construction

(1) Corner-Stone

(2) Floor

(3) Gutter

(4) Door

(5) Hinge

(6) Lock and Key

(7) Threshold

(8) Hearth

(9) Window

(10) Roof

2. Houses of More than One Story

(1) Upper Chambers and Stairs

(2) Palaces and Castles

3. Internal Appearance

III. OTHER MEANINGS

LITERATURE

I. Cave Dwellings.

The earliest permanent habitations of the prehistoric inhabitants of Palestine were the natural caves which abound throughout the country. As the people increased and grouped themselves into communities, these abodes were supplemented by systems of artificial caves which, in some cases, developed into extensive burrowings of many adjoining compartments, having in each system several entrances. These entrances were usually cut through the roof down a few steps, or simply dropped to the floor from the rock surface. The sinking was shallow and the headroom low but sufficient for the undersized troglodites who were the occupiers.

II. Stone-built and Mud/Brick-built Houses.

There are many references to the use of caves as dwellings in the Old Testament. Lot dwelt with his two daughters in cave (Ge 19:30). Elijah, fleeing from Jezebel, lodged in a cave (1Ki 19:9). The natural successor to the cave was the stone-built hut, and just as the loose field-bowlders and the stones, quarried from the caves, served their first and most vital uses in the building of defense walls, so did they later become material for the first hut. Caves, during the rainy season, were faulty dwellings, as at the time when protection was most needed, they were being flooded through the surface openings which formed their entrances. The rudest cell built of rough stones in mud and covered a with roof of brushwood and mud was at first sufficient. More elaborate plans of several apartments, entering from what may be called a living-room, followed as a matter of course, and these, huddled together, constituted the homes of the people. Mud-brick buildings (Job 4:19) of similar plan occur, and to protect this friable material from the weather, the walls were sometimes covered with a casing of stone slabs, as at Lachish. (See Bliss, A Mound of Many Cities.) Generally speaking, this rude type of building prevailed, although, in some of the larger buildings, square dressed and jointed stones were used. There is little or no sign of improvement until the period of the Hellenistic influence, and even then the improvement was slight, so far as the homes of the common people were concerned.

1. Details of Plan and Construction:

One should observe an isometric sketch and plan showing construction of a typical small house from Gezer. The house is protected and approached from the street by an open court, on one side of which is a covered way. The doors enter into a living-room from which the two very small inner private rooms, bedchambers, are reached. Builders varied the plan to suit requirements, but in the main, this plan may be taken as typical. When members of a family married, extra accommodation was required. Additions were made as well as could be arranged on the cramped site, and in consequence, plans often became such a meaningless jumble that it is impossible to identify the respective limits of adjoining houses. The forecourt was absorbed and crushed out of existence, so that in many of the plans recovered the arrangement is lost.

(1) Corner-stone:

Corner-stone (pinnah, Isa 28:16; Jer 51:26; lithos akrogoniaios, 1Pe 2:6).--In the construction of rude boulder walls, more especially on a sloping site, as can be seen today in the highlands of Scotland and Wales, a large projecting boulder was built into the lower angle-course. It tied together the return angles and was one of the few bond-stones used in the building. This most necessary support claimed chief importance and as such assumed a figurative meaning frequently used (Isa 28:16; 1Pe 2:6; see CORNER-STONE). The importance given to the laying of a sure foundation is further emphasized by the dedication rites in common practice, evidence of which has been found on various sites in Palestine (see Excavations of Gezer). The discovery of human remains placed diagonally below the foundations of the returning angle of the house gives proof of the exercise of dedication rites both before and after the Conquest. Hiel sacrificed his firstborn to the foundations of Jericho and his youngest son to the gates thereof (1Ki 16:34). But this was in a great cause compared with a similar sacrifice to a private dwelling. The latter manifests a respect scarcely borne out by the miserable nature of the houses so dedicated. At the same time, it gives proof of the frequent collapse of structures which the winter rains made inevitable and at which superstition trembled. The fear of pending disaster to the man who failed to make his sacrifice is recorded in De 20:5: "What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle." See illustration, p. 550.

(2) Floor:

Floor (qarqa`).--When houses were built on the rock outcrop, the floor was roughly leveled on the rock surface, but it is more common to find floors of beaten clay similar to the native floor of the present day. Stone slabs were sparingly used, and only appear in the houses of the great. It is unlikely that wood was much used as a flooring to houses, although Solomon used it for his temple floor (1Ki 6:15).

(3) Gutter:

Gutter (tsinnor).--The "gutter" in 2Sa 5:8 the King James Version is obviously difficult to associate with the gutter of a house, except in so far as it may have a similar meaning to the water duct or "water course" (Revised Version (British and American)) leading to the private cistern, which formed part of the plan. Remains of open channels for this purpose have been found of rough stones set in clay, sometimes leading through a silt pit into the cistern.

(4) Door:

Door (deleth, pethach; thura).--Doorways were simple, square, entering openings in the wall with a stone or wood lintel (mashqoph, Ex 12:22,23; 'ayil, 1Ki 6:31) and a stone threshold raised slightly above the floor. It is easy to imagine the earliest wooden door as a simple movable boarded cover with back bars, fixed vertically by a movable bar slipped into sockets in the stone jambs. Doorposts (caph, Eze 41:16) appear to have been in use, but, until locks were introduced, it is difficult to imagine a reason for them. Posts, when introduced, were probably let into the stone at top and bottom, and, unlike our present door frame, had no head-piece. When no wood was used, the stone jambs of the opening constituted the doorposts. To the present day the post retains its function as commanded in De 6:9; 11:20, and in it is fitted a small case containing a parchment on which is written the exhortation to obedience.

(5) Hinge:

Hinge (poth, 1Ki 7:50; tsir, Pr 26:14).--Specimens of sill and head sockets of stone have been discovered which suggest the use of the pivot hinge, the elongated swinging stile of the door being let into the sockets at top and bottom. A more advanced form of construction was necessary to this type of door than in the previous instance, and some little skill was required to brace it so that it would hold together. The construction of doors and windows is an interesting question, as it is in these two details that the joinery craft first claimed development. There is no indication, however, of anything of the nature of advancement, and it seems probable that there was none.

(6) Lock and key:

Lock and key ("lock," man`ul, Ne 3:3 ff; So 5:5; "key," maphteach, Jud 3:25; figurative. Isa 22:22; kleis, Mt 16:19, etc.).--In later Hellenic times a sort of primitive lock and key appeared, similar to the Arabic type. See Excavations of Gezer, I, 197, and illustration in article KEY.

(7) Threshold:

Threshold (caph, 1Ki 14:17; Eze 40:6 ff; miphtan, 1Sa 5:4,5; Eze 9:3, etc.).--Next to the corner-stone, the threshold was specially sacred, and in many instances foundation-sacrifices have been found buried under the threshold. In later times, when the Hebrews became weaned of this unholy practice, the rite remained with the substitution of a lamp enclosed between two bowls as a symbol of the life.

See GEZER.

(8) Hearth:

Hearth ('ach, Jer 36:22,23, the Revised Version (British and American) "brazier"; kiyyor).--The references in the Old Testament and the frequent discovery of hearths make it clear that so much provision for heating had been made. It is unlikely, however, that chimneys were provided. The smoke from the wood or charcoal fuel was allowed to find its way through the door and windows and the many interstices occurring in workmanship of the worst possible description. The "chimney" referred to (Ho 13:3) is a doubtful translation. The "fire in the brazier" (Jer 36:22 the Revised Version (British and American)) which burned before the king of Judah in his "winter house" was probably of charcoal. The modern natives, during the cold season, huddle around and warm their hands at a tiny glow in much the same way as their ancient predecessors. The use of cow and camel dung for baking-oven (tannur) fires appears to have continued from the earliest time to the present day (Eze 4:15).

See also HEARTH.

(9) Window:

Window (thuris, Ac 20:9; 2Co 11:33).--It would appear that windows were often simple openings in the wall which were furnished with some method of closing, which, it may be conjectured, was somewhat the same as the primitive door previously mentioned. The window of the ark (challon, Ge 8:6), the references in Ge 26:8; Jos 2:15, and the window from which Jezebel looked (2Ki 9:30), were presumably of the casement class. Ahaziah fell through a lattice (cebhakhah) in the same palace, and the same word is used for the "networks" (1Ki 7:41) "covering the bowls of the capitals," and in So 2:9, "through the lattice" (charakkim). It would appear, therefore, that some variety of treatment existed, and that the simple window opening with casement and the opening filled in with a lattice or grill were distinct. Windows were small, and, according to the Mishna, were kept not less than 6 ft. from floor to sill. The lattice was open, without glass filling, and in this connection there is the interesting figurative reference in Isa 54:12 the King James Version, "windows of agates," translated in the Revised Version (British and American) "pinnacles of rubies." Heaven is spoken of as having "windows" ('arubbah) for rain (Ge 7:11; 8:2; 2Ki 7:2, etc.).

(10) Roof:

Roof (gagh; stege).--These were flat. Compare "The beams of our house are cedars, and our rafters are firs" (So 1:17). To get over the difficulty of the larger spans, a common practice was to introduce a main beam (qurah) carried on the walls and strengthened by one or more intermediate posts let into stone sockets laid on the floor. Smaller timbers as joists ("rafters," rahiT) were spaced out and covered in turn with brushwood; the final covering, being of mud mixed with chopped straw, was beaten and rolled. A tiny stone roller is found on every modern native roof, and is used to roll the mud into greater solidity every year on the advent of the first rains. Similar rollers have been found among the ancient remains throughout the country; see Excavations of Gezer, I, 190; PEFS, Warren's letters, 46. "They let him down through the tiles (keramos) with his couch into the midst before Jesus" (Lu 5:19) refers to the breaking through of a roof similar to this. The roof ("housetop," gagh; doma) was an important part of every house and was subjected to many uses. It was used for worship (2Ki 23:12; Jer 19:13; 32:29; Ze 1:5; Ac 10:9). Absalom spread his tent on the "top of the house" (2Sa 16:22). In the Feast of the Tabernacles temporary booths (cukkah) were erected on the housetops. The people, as is their habit today, gathered together on the roof as a common meeting-place on high days and holidays (Jud 16:27). The wild wranglings which can be heard in any modern native village, resulting in vile accusations and exposure of family secrets hurled from the housetops of the conflicting parties, illustrate the passage, "And what ye have spoken in the ear in the inner chambers shall be proclaimed upon the housetops" (Lu 12:3).

2. Houses of More than One Story:

(1) Upper Chambers and Stairs:

It is certain that there were upper chambers (`aliyah; huperoon, Ac 9:37, etc.) to some of the houses. Ahaziah was fatally injured by falling from the window of his palace, and a somewhat similar fate befell his mother, Jezebel (2Ki 1:2; 9:33). The escape of the spies from the house on the wall at Jericho (Jos 2:15) and that of Paul from Damascus (2Co 11:33) give substantial evidence of window openings at a considerable height. Elijah carried the son of the widow of Zarephath "up into the chamber." The Last Supper was held in an upper chamber (Mr 14:15). Some sort of stairs (ma`alah) of stone or wood must have existed, and the lack of the remains of stone steps suggests that they were wood steps, probably in the form of ladders. (2) Palaces and Castles:

Palaces and castles ('armon, birah, hekhal; aule, parembole).--These were part of every city and were more elaborate in plan, raised in all probability to some considerable height. The Canaanite castle discovered by Macalister at Gezer shows a building of enormously thick walls and small rooms. Reisner has unearthed Ahab's palace at Samaria, revealing a plan of considerable area. Solomon's palace is detailed in 1Ki 7 (see TEMPLE). In this class may also be included the megalithic fortified residences with the beehive guard towers of an earlier date, described by Dr. Mackenzie (PEF, I) .

3. International Appearance:

Walls were plastered (Le 14:43,18), and small fragments of painted (Jer 22:14) plaster discovered from time to time show that some attempt at mural decoration was made, usually in the form of crudely painted line ornament. Walls were recessed here and there into various forms of cupboards (which see) at various levels. The smaller cuttings in the wall were probably for lamps, and in the larger and deeper recesses bedmats may have been kept and garments stored.

III. Other Meanings.

The word has often the sense of "household," and this term is frequently substituted in the Revised Version (British and American) for "house" of the King James Version (e.g. Ex 12:3; 2Ki 7:11; 10:5; 15:5; Isa 36:3; 1Co 1:11; 1Ti 5:14); in certain cases for phrases with "house" the Revised Version (British and American) has "at home". (Ac 2:46; 5:42).

See HOUSE OF GOD; HOUSEHOLD.

LITERATURE.

Macalister, Excavations at Gezer; PEFS; Sellin, Excavations at Taanach; Schumacher, Excavations at Tell Mutesellim; Bliss, Mound of Many Cities; articles in Dictionaries and Encyclopedias.

Arch. C. Dickie

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Habitation, abode, dwelling, mansion, residence, domicile, dwelling-place, home. 2. Building, edifice. 3. Family, household. 4. Lineage, race, kindred, tribe. 5. Legislative body. 6. Firm, partnership, company, concern, commercial establishment. 7. Hotel, inn, tavern, place of entertainment, public-house. II. v. a. Shelter, protect, put under cover (of a roof), furnish with a house, procure a house or home for. III. v. n. Abide, dwell, reside, lodge.

Moby Thesaurus

Aktiengesellschaft, Dymaxion house, Elizabethan theater, Globe Theatre, Greek theater, White House, abbey, abode, accommodate, adobe house, affiliation, agency, aktiebolag, amphitheater, ancestry, animal kingdom, apparentation, architecture, arena theater, as a gift, aspect, assembly, astrodiagnosis, astrology, astromancy, atelier, audience, auditorium, auditory, bagnio, barbershop, beauty parlor, beauty shop, bed, beleaguer, bench, berth, beset, besiege, bestow, billet, birth, blockade, blood, bloodline, board, body corporate, bordello, bound, boutique, box in, branch, breed, brood, brothel, building, bunk, business, business establishment, butcher shop, cabaret, cabin, cage, cartel, casa, chain store, chamber, chamber of commerce, children, circle theater, clan, class, cliff dwelling, cloister, close in, club, co-op, combine, commercial enterprise, common ancestry, commorancy, compagnie, company, compass, concern, concert hall, concession, conglomerate, conglomerate corporation, congregation, congress, consanguinity, consolidating company, consortium, construct, construction, consulate, contain, convent, coop, coop in, coop up, cooperative, copartnership, cordon, cordon off, corporate body, corporation, corral, council, countinghouse, country house, country seat, country store, crib, cuddy, dacha, deanery, deckhouse, deme, department store, derivation, descendants, descent, desk, diet, dime store, direct line, discount house, discount store, distaff side, diversified corporation, domicile, domiciliate, dwelling, dwelling house, dynasty, edifice, embassy, emporium, encircle, enclose, encompass, enshrine, enterprise, entertain, erection, establishment, extraction, fabric, facility, family, farm, farmhouse, female line, fence in, filiation, firm, five-and-ten, folk, folks, for nothing, forebears, free, friary, gallery, general store, genethliac astrology, genethliacism, genethliacs, genethlialogy, gens, get, gratis, groundling, hall, harbor, haven, hearth, hedge in, hem in, holding company, home, homefolks, homestead, horoscope, horoscopy, house in, houseboat, household, hut, impound, imprison, incarcerate, include, industry, installation, institution, issue, jail, joint-stock association, joint-stock company, kennel, kind, kindred, lake dwelling, lamasery, leaguer, legislative body, legislature, line, line of descent, lineage, little theater, living machine, lodge, lodgings, loft, magasin, mail-order house, male line, manor house, manse, mansion, market, mart, matriclan, menage, mew, mew up, monastery, mundane astrology, mundane house, music hall, nation, nativity, natural astrology, night spot, nightclub, nunnery, offspring, on the house, opera, opera house, operating company, orchestra, order, organization, outdoor theater, outfit, packaged house, parliament, parlor, parsonage, partnership, patriclan, pen, pen in, penthouse, people, phratry, phyle, phylum, pile, pit, planetary house, plant kingdom, playhouse, plunderbund, pocket, pool, post, prefab, prefabricated house, prefabrication, presidential palace, priorate, priory, public utility, put up, pyramid, quarantine, quarter, quarters, race, rail in, ranch house, rectory, residence, residency, retail store, roof, room, salon, saloon, seed, sept, shelter, shelter cabin, shield, shop, showboat, shrine, shut in, shut up, side, skyscraper, sod house, spear side, species, spectator, spindle side, split-level, sporting house, stable, stargazing, stateroom, stem, stirps, stock, stock company, store, strain, structure, studio, succession, supermarket, superstructure, surround, sweatshop, sword side, syndicate, take in, theater, theater-in-the-round, theatre, theatron, totem, tower, town house, trade association, trading post, tribe, trust, undertaking, utility, variety shop, variety store, vicarage, wall in, warehouse, wareroom, wholesale house, work site, work space, workbench, workhouse, working space, workplace, workroom, workshop, worktable, wrap, yard, yard up, zodiac