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

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

"I think for us, it's always about nailing those specialist positions," said Erasmus.

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

“We’ve put the whisky product to one side and we’ll have a bit of fun with it when it’s ready, but the tourism will pay the bills,” Erasmus said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

The first suggestion that an insect might be controlled by encouraging its enemies is generally credited to Erasmus Darwin about 1800.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson