Joseph

American  

[joh-zuhf, -suhf] / ˈdʒoʊ zəf, -səf /

noun

1. (in the Bible) Jacob's eleventh son, the first of Jacob and his second wife, Rachel: sold into slavery by his brothers.

2. (in the Bible) the husband of Mary who was the mother of Jesus.

3. Hinmaton-yalaktit, c1840–1904, leader of the Nez Perce: led 1,000-mile (1,600-km) retreat from U.S. forces in an attempt to reach Canada in 1877.

4. joseph, a long coat buttoning in the front, worn especially by women as part of their riding habit in colonial America.

5. a male given name: from a Hebrew word meaning “increaser.”

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Joseph ¹ British  

/ ˈdʒəʊzɪf /

noun

1. Old Testament

   1. the eleventh son of Jacob and one of the 12 patriarchs of Israel (Genesis 30:2–24)

   2. either or both of two tribes descended from his sons Ephraim and Manasseh

2. New Testament the husband of Mary the mother of Jesus (Matthew 1:16–25). Feast day: Mar 19

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joseph ² British  

/ ˈdʒəʊzɪf /

noun

1. a woman's floor-length riding coat with a small cape, worn esp in the 18th century

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Etymology

Origin of joseph

perhaps from the story of Joseph and his long coat (Genesis 37:3)

Example Sentences

Joseph's Coat grows naturally along Brazil's coastline and has long been used in traditional medicine to treat inflammation, infections, and parasitic illnesses.

From Science Daily

Patrick Joseph Brady died at the scene of the collision which happened on the Newry Road at about 22:45 GMT on Saturday.

From BBC

At this week’s trial, Customs and Border Protection officer Joseph Zuraw said Judge Dugan jerked her thumb over her shoulder and told the agents to “get out.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Joseph Adinolfi and Gordon Gottsegen interviewed six investors who are students or at early stages of their careers and have made tremendous profits by taking risky positions in the stock market.

From MarketWatch

Former Democratic representative Joseph Kennedy III, grandnephew of President Kennedy, said the center was named for “a fallen president…by federal law.”

From Salon