Gaon

[ gah-ohn; Sephardic Hebrew gah-awn; Ashkenazic Hebrew gah-ohn, goin ]

noun

, plural Ge·o·nim [ge-aw-, neem, gey-, oh, -nim], English Ga·ons.

1. a title of honor for the directors of the Jewish academies at Sura and Pumbedita in Babylonia, used from the end of the 6th century a.d. to about the beginning of the 11th century.
2. an eminent Jewish scholar noted for wisdom and knowledge of the Talmud:

   the Gaon of Vilna.

Other Words From

• Ga·on·ic [gey-, on, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Gaon¹

1770–80; < Hebrew: literally, majesty

Example Sentences

At the age of thirty-six Saadiah received a remarkable honor; he was summoned to Sura to fill the post of Gaon.

From Project Gutenberg

But Abraham had followers in Pumbeditha, who gave him their support, and refused allegiance to the rival Gaon.

From Project Gutenberg

It put itself on an equal footing with the sister academy of Sora, and its presidents likewise assumed the title of Gaon.

From Project Gutenberg

The son of a Gaon, named Nathan ben Yehuda, was invested with this titular dignity, but he died suddenly.

From Project Gutenberg

In the latter, two men, otherwise unknown, successively filled the post of Gaon.

From Project Gutenberg