benjamin

[ben-juh-muh n]

noun

benzoin¹(def 2).

Origin of benjamin

1570–80; alteration (by association with the proper name) of benjoin, early form of benzoin¹

Benjamin

[ben-juh-muh n]

noun

the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, and the brother of Joseph. Gen. 35:18.

one of the 12 tribes of ancient Israel traditionally descended from him.

Asher,1773–1845, U.S. architect and writer.

Judah Philip,1811–84, Confederate statesman.

a male given name: from a Hebrew word meaning “son of the right.”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for benjamin

Contemporary Examples of benjamin

Like Bush 41 and Shamir, Bill Clinton and Benjamin Netanyahu were not exactly soul mates.
The Inside Story of U.S. Meddling in Israel’s Elections
Aaron David Miller
December 4, 2014
Benjamin Franklin warned against making any hasty conclusions on such “a point of great importance.”
Why We Can’t Quit Calling Presidents ‘Kings’
Kevin Bleyer
November 22, 2014
Anderson pleaded with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ban clothing made from animal fur.
Pamela Anderson Is Israel’s No. 1 Fan
Asawin Suebsaeng
November 7, 2014
I think Abraham Lincoln: A Biography by Benjamin P. Thomas, which was published 60 years ago, is magical.
What Lincoln Could Teach Fox News
Scott Porch
November 6, 2014
Meanwhile, Benjamin says, the Board watched, applauded the parents, and barred the headmaster from responding.
Lawsuit Claims Author Nicholas Sparks Is a Racist, Anti-Semitic Bully
Melissa Leon
October 3, 2014

Historical Examples of benjamin

When Benjamin was quite a large lad he was sent to school at Philadelphia.
Biographical Stories
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Now, what advantage could the world expect from Benjamin's pictures?
Biographical Stories
Nathaniel Hawthorne
So here we finish our story of the childhood of Benjamin Franklin.
Biographical Stories
Nathaniel Hawthorne
"I will never forget it again," said Benjamin, bowing his head.
Biographical Stories
Nathaniel Hawthorne
His son Benjamin succeeded to his vast estate, but died of small-pox in 1753.
Chronicles of Border Warfare
Alexander Scott Withers

British Dictionary definitions for benjamin

benjamin

noun

another name for benzoin (def. 1)

benjamin bush another name for spicebush

Word Origin for benjamin

C16: variant of benzoin; influenced in form by the name Benjamin

Benjamin

noun

Old Testament

the youngest and best-loved son of Jacob and Rachel (Genesis 35:16–18; 42:4)
the tribe descended from this patriarch
the territory of this tribe, northwest of the Dead Sea

archaic a youngest and favourite son

Benjamin

noun

Arthur . 1893–1960, Australian composer. In addition to Jamaican Rumba (1938), he wrote five operas and a harmonica concerto (1953)

(German ˈbɛnɪamin) Walter (ˈvaltər). 1892–1940, German critic and cultural theorist

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for benjamin

Benjamin

masc. proper name, in Old Testament, Jacob's youngest son (Gen. xxxv:18), from Hebrew Binyamin, literally "son of the south," though interpreted in Genesis as "son of the right hand," from ben "son of" + yamin "right hand," also "south" (in an East-oriented culture). Cf. Arabic cognate yaman "right hand, right side, south;" yamana "he was happy," literally "he turned to the right." The right was regarded as auspicious (see left and dexterity). Also see Yemen, southpaw, and cf. deasil "rightwise, turned toward the right," from Gaelic deiseil "toward the south; toward the right," from deas "right, right-hand; south." Also cf. Sanskrit dakshina "right; south." Slang meaning "money" (by 1999) is from portrait of Benjamin Franklin on U.S. $100 bill.