Esther

[ es-ter ]

/ ˈɛs tər /

noun

the wife of Ahasuerus.

a book of the Bible bearing her name. Abbreviation: Esth.

a number of prayers, visions, interpretations of dreams, etc., that are included in the Douay Bible as chapters 10–16.

a female given name.

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

Examples from the Web for esther

In her struggle to find her daughter, Esther becomes one of the founders of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo.
How Pope Francis Became the World’s BFF|Jason Berry|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Esther Choi of Mokbar said she has made Korean potato pancakes called gam ja jun, and Charles Rodriguez of PRINT.
I Ate Potato Pancakes Til I Plotzed|Emily Shire|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The name Easter may, or may not, be derived from the Sumerian goddess Inanna, or Ishtar—the source of the Hebrew name Esther.
Meet Krampus, the Seriously Bad Santa|Jay Michaelson|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I started to think of these sections in part as being the interior place where the characters of Jane and Esther perhaps overlap.
Susan Minot on Africa, Joseph Kony, and the Limits of Writing About Love|Lea Carpenter|February 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Esther Williams, 91 From 1945-49 a Williams film was one of the top 20 box office grossers each year—clearly, swimming sells.
The Deaths You Missed This Year|Malcolm Jones, Jimmy So, Michael Moynihan, Caitlin Dickson|December 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Loosing his hold upon Esther, he swiftly shifted his weapon to his other hand and brought down a blow on the boy's back.
A Dear Little Girl's Thanksgiving Holidays|Amy E. Blanchard
Esther's mother had made herself ready for her walk by fastening a bright red shawl over her head.
Our Little Jewish Cousin|Mary Hazelton Wade
When I was on the other side of the door, Esther ran after me.
Jewish Children|Sholem Naumovich Rabinovich
She looked at Esther quizzically, then suddenly she held out her hand.
The Phantom Lover|Ruby M. Ayres
You know mother would like to have you, Esther said, with polite urgence.
Wheat and Huckleberries|Charlotte Marion (White) Vaile

British Dictionary definitions for esther

Esther

/ (ˈɛstə) /

noun Old Testament

a beautiful Jewish woman who became queen of Persia and saved her people from massacre

the book in which this episode is recounted

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

Culture definitions for esther

Esther

A book of the Old Testament that tells the story of a beautiful Jewish woman named Esther who is chosen by the king of Persia (now Iran; see Persian Empire) to be his queen. Esther, with the aid of her cousin Mordecai, stops a plot to massacre the Jews (see also Jews) in Persia, and Mordecai becomes the king's chief minister.

Note

This event is celebrated by Jews as the feast of Purim.