Ezra

[ez-ruh]

noun

a Jewish scribe and prophet of the 5th century b.c., who with Nehemiah led the revival of Judaism in Palestine.
a book of the Bible bearing his name. Abbreviation: Ezr.
a male given name: from a Hebrew word meaning “help.”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for ezra

Contemporary Examples of ezra

As uncovered by the climate blog desmogblog, the Ethical Oil meme dates to a 2010 book by Ezra Levant.
How Canadian Oilmen Pinkwash the Keystone Pipeline
Jay Michaelson
December 28, 2014
I was also drawn to the work of Ezra Pound and Robert Creeley.
Image is Everything: An Interview with Alejandro Zambra
Juan Vidal
February 28, 2014
“Ezra was the most generous writer I have ever known,” Hemingway later remarked.
The Letter That Paved the Way for ‘Ulysses'
Ted Gioia
December 15, 2013
Ezra Pound offered to make useful connections for Joyce, and find places where he could publish his writings.
The Letter That Paved the Way for ‘Ulysses'
Ted Gioia
December 15, 2013
Ezra Pound ranks among the finest poets of his generation, but his greatest trait may have been his eye for talent in others.
The Letter That Paved the Way for ‘Ulysses'
Ted Gioia
December 15, 2013

Historical Examples of ezra

So Ezra sed: "Wall, here's your money; now what do you want in trade?"
Uncles Josh's Punkin Centre Stories
Cal Stewart
"Ezra needs bracing'," she heard her mother say, in many a sick-room gossip.
Tiverton Tales
Alice Brown
"Well, I hadn't any expectation o' your bein' here," said Ezra.
Tiverton Tales
Alice Brown
We hear it in the prayer of men like Ezra and Nehemiah and Daniel.
The Ministry of Intercession
Andrew Murray
The two days and nights following Ezra's departure had been strenuous and provoking.
The Woman-Haters
Joseph C. Lincoln

British Dictionary definitions for ezra

Ezra

noun Old Testament

a Jewish priest of the 5th century bc, who was sent from Babylon by the Persian king Artaxerxes I to reconstitute observance of the Jewish law and worship in Jerusalem after the captivity
the book recounting his efforts to perform this task

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 ezra

Ezra

masc. proper name, in Old Testament name of a celebrated 5c. B.C.E. scribe, from Late Latin, from Hebrew Ezra, contraction of Azaryah(u), literally "God has helped," from ezer "help" + Yah, a shortened form of Yahweh "God."