Adjacent Words

Jew definitions

	Tweet

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

JEW, n. [a contraction of Judas of Judah.] A Hebrew or Israelite.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: 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, from Anglo-French ju, jeu, from Latin Judaeus, from Greek Ioudaios, from Hebrew Y?h?dh?, from Y?h?dh?h Judah, Jewish kingdom Date: 13th century 1. a. a member of the tribe of Judah b. Israelite 2. a member of a nation existing in Palestine from the sixth century B.C. to the first century A.D. 3. a person belonging to a continuation through descent or conversion of the ancient Jewish people 4. one whose religion is Judaism

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a person of Hebrew descent or whose religion is Judaism. 2 sl. offens. (as a stereotype) a person considered to be parsimonious or to drive a hard bargain in trading. Usage: The stereotype, which is now deeply offensive, arose from historical associations of Jews as moneylenders in medieval England. --v.tr. (jew) sl. offens. get a financial advantage over. Phrases and idioms: jew's harp a small lyre-shaped musical instrument held between the teeth and struck with the finger. Etymology: ME f. OF giu f. L judaeus f. Gk ioudaios ult. f. Heb. yehûdî f. yehûdâh Judah

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Jew Jew, n. [OF. Juis, pl., F. Juif, L. Judaeus, Gr. ?, fr. ? the country of the Jews, Judea, fr. Heb. Y?h?d[=a]h Judah, son of Jacob. Cf. Judaic.] Originally, one belonging to the tribe or kingdom of Judah; after the return from the Babylonish captivity, any member of the new state; a Hebrew; an Israelite. Jew's frankincense, gum styrax, or benzoin. Jew's mallow (Bot.), an annual herb (Corchorus olitorius) cultivated in Syria and Egypt as a pot herb, and in India for its fiber. Jew's pitch, asphaltum; bitumen. The Wandering Jew, an imaginary personage, who, for his cruelty to the Savior during his passion, is doomed to wander on the earth till Christ's second coming.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(Jews) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. A Jew is a person who believes in and practises the religion of Judaism. N-COUNT

Hitchcock Bible Dictionary

same as Judah

Easton's Bible Dictionary

the name derived from the patriarch Judah, at first given to one belonging to the tribe of Judah or to the separate kingdom of Judah (2 Kings 16:6; 25:25; Jer. 32:12; 38:19; 40:11; 41:3), in contradistinction from those belonging to the kingdom of the ten tribes, who were called Israelites.

During the Captivity, and after the Restoration, the name, however, was extended to all the Hebrew nation without distinction (Esther 3:6, 10; Dan. 3:8, 12; Ezra 4:12; 5:1, 5).

Originally this people were called Hebrews (Gen. 39:14; 40:15; Ex. 2:7; 3:18; 5:3; 1 Sam. 4:6, 9, etc.), but after the Exile this name fell into disuse. But Paul was styled a Hebrew (2 Cor. 11:22; Phil. 3:5).

The history of the Jewish nation is interwoven with the history of Palestine and with the narratives of the lives of their rulers and chief men. They are now [1897] dispersed over all lands, and to this day remain a separate people, "without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image [R.V. 'pillar,' marg. 'obelisk'], and without an ephod, and without teraphim" (Hos. 3:4). Till about the beginning of the present century [1800] they were everywhere greatly oppressed, and often cruelly persecuted; but now their condition is greatly improved, and they are admitted in most European countries to all the rights of free citizens. In 1860 the "Jewish disabilities" were removed, and they were admitted to a seat in the British Parliament. Their number in all is estimated at about six millions, about four millions being in Europe.

There are three names used in the New Testament to designate this people, (1.) Jews, as regards their nationality, to distinguish them from Gentiles. (2.) Hebrews, with regard to their language and education, to distinguish them from Hellenists, i.e., Jews who spoke the Greek language. (3.) Israelites, as respects their sacred privileges as the chosen people of God. "To other races we owe the splendid inheritance of modern civilization and secular culture; but the religious education of mankind has been the gift of the Jew alone."

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Hebrew, Israelite.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

An over-reaching dealer, or hard, sharp fellow; an extortioner: the brokers formerly behind St. Clement's church in the Strand were called Jews by their brethren the taylors.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

A tradesman who has no faith, i.e. will not give credit.