Erasmus

American  

[ih-raz-muhs] / ɪˈræz məs /

noun

1. Desiderius 1466?–1536, Dutch humanist, scholar, theologian, and writer.

2. a male given name: from a Greek word meaning “beloved.”

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Erasmus British  

/ ɪˈræzməs /

noun

1. Desiderius (ˌdɛzɪˈdɪərɪəs), real name Gerhard Gerhards. ?1466–1536, Dutch humanist, the leading scholar of the Renaissance in northern Europe. He published the first Greek edition of the New Testament in 1516; his other works include the satirical Encomium Moriae (1509); Colloquia (1519), a series of dialogues; and an attack on the theology of Luther, De Libero Arbitrio (1524)

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Example Sentences

Former classmates from Brooklyn’s Erasmus High, Diamond and Barbra Streisand joined forces for this chart-topping duet after each had already recorded the tune on their own.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

Erasmus was impressed enough that when Holbein traveled to England in 1526, he sent the painter off with letters of introduction.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus admitted there were lessons to be learned as they head home after losing all four of their group matches.

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

"We let the virus slip out through our fingers when it first emerged in the poultry industry," said corresponding senior author Thijs Kuiken, a professor at Erasmus MC.

From Science Daily • Feb. 12, 2026

He didn’t turn to Hensleigh, or even to his brother Erasmus, who would not be at all shocked by his theory or have any reluctance to publish it.

From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman