Hebrew

[ hee-broo ]

/ ˈhi bru /

noun

a member of the Semitic peoples inhabiting ancient Palestine and claiming descent from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; an Israelite.

a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic family, the language of the ancient Hebrews, which, although not in a vernacular use from 100 b.c. to the 20th century, was retained as the scholarly and liturgical language of Jews and is now the national language of Israel. Abbreviation: Heb

adjective

Hebraic.

noting or pertaining to the script developed from the Aramaic and early Hebraic alphabets, used since about the 3rd century b.c. for the writing of Hebrew, and later for Yiddish, Ladino, and other languages.

Origin of Hebrew

before 1000; Middle English Hebreu, variant (with H- < Latin) of Ebreu < Old French < Medieval Latin Ebrēus for Latin Hebraeus < Late Greek Hebraîos < Aramaic ʿIbhraij; replacing Old English Ebrēas (plural) < Medieval Latin Ebrēī

OTHER WORDS FROM Hebrew

non-He·brew, noun, adjectivepre-He·brew, adjective, noun

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

Examples from the Web for hebrew

So why did the God of the Hebrew people choose such a scandalous setting for becoming human?
Jesus Wasn’t Born Rich. Think About It.|Gene Robinson|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They were conducted entirely in Hebrew, a language the U.S. native does not speak, although he was provided a translator.
The Strange Case of the Christian Zionist Terrorist|Creede Newton|December 14, 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
Then just 8-years-old he saw writing on a deli Billboard that was in Hebrew.
Out of the Birdcage: How Mike Nichols Made Gay Culture Mainstream|Kevin Fallon|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But he insist his character, Petel (Hebrew for raspberry) has a universal appeal.
Trans in the Holy Land: ‘Marzipan Flowers,’ Tal Kallai, and the Shattering of Israel’s LGBT Taboos|Itay Hod|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I need hardly remark that every name in the Bible, especially Hebrew names, has a meaning of its own.
Pleasure & Profit in Bible Study|Dwight Moody
Within its walls he was as secure as was the ancient Hebrew in his city of refuge.
Milton's England|Lucia Ames Mead
For poetical charm the first place is to be assigned to the Egyptian, Hebrew, and Hindu hymns.
Introduction to the History of Religions|Crawford Howell Toy
In Greek and Hebrew the third letter (gimel, gamma) had the power of the flat mute g, as in gun.
The English Language|Robert Gordon Latham
What nation of ancient history can claim and identify those customs and observances as their own, if not the Hebrew?
The History of Ancient America, Anterior to the Time of Columbus|George Jones

British Dictionary definitions for hebrew

Hebrew

/ (ˈhiːbruː) /

noun

the ancient language of the Hebrews, revived as the official language of Israel. It belongs to the Canaanitic branch of the Semitic subfamily of the Afro-Asiatic family of languages

a member of an ancient Semitic people claiming descent from Abraham; an Israelite

archaic, or offensive a Jew

adjective

of or relating to the Hebrews or their language

archaic, or offensive Jewish

Word Origin for Hebrew

C13: from Old French Ebreu, from Latin Hebraeus, from Greek Hebraios, from Aramaic `ibhray, from Hebrew `ibhrī one from beyond (the river)

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 hebrew

Hebrew

The language of the Hebrews, in which the Old Testament was written. It is the language of the modern state of Israel.

Hebrew

noun

adjective

Content related to Hebrew

Words related to Hebrew

Origin of Hebrew

OTHER WORDS FROM Hebrew

Examples from the Web for hebrew

British Dictionary definitions for hebrew

noun

adjective

Word Origin for Hebrew

Culture definitions for hebrew