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Messiah

[ mi-sahy-uh ]
/ mɪˈsaɪ ə /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR Messiah ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the promised and expected deliverer of the Jewish people.
Jesus Christ, regarded by Christians as fulfilling this promise and expectation. John 4:25, 26.
(usually lowercase) any expected deliverer.
(usually lowercase) a zealous leader of some cause or project.
(italics) an oratorio (1742) by George Frideric Handel.

Words related to Messiah

spiritual, righteous, humble, hallowed, pure, divine, sublime, revered, perfect, good, faithful, clean, devotional, believing, innocent, upright, moral, angelic, blessed, chaste
Also Douay Bible, Mes·si·as [mi-sahy-uh s] /mɪˈsaɪ əs/ (for defs 1, 2).

Origin of Messiah

< Late Latin (Vulgate) Messīās < Greek Messī́ās < Hebrew māshīaḥ literally, anointed

OTHER WORDS FROM Messiah

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for messianic (1 of 2)

messianic
/ (ˌmɛsɪˈænɪk) /

adjective

(sometimes capital) Bible
  1. of or relating to the Messiah, his awaited deliverance of the Jews, or the new age of peace expected to follow this
  2. of or relating to Jesus Christ or the salvation believed to have been brought by him
  1. of or relating to any popular leader promising deliverance or an ideal era of peace and prosperity
  2. of or relating to promises of this kind or to an ideal era of this kind

Derived forms of messianic

messianically, adverbmessianism (mɛˈsaɪənɪzəm), noun

British Dictionary definitions for messianic (2 of 2)

Messiah
/ (mɪˈsaɪə) /

noun

Judaism the awaited redeemer of the Jews, to be sent by God to free them
Jesus Christ, when regarded in this role
an exceptional or hoped for liberator of a country or people

Derived forms of Messiah

Messiahship, noun

Word Origin for Messiah

C14: from Old French Messie, ultimately from Hebrew māshīach anointed
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

Cultural definitions for messianic (1 of 3)

Messiah
[ (muh-seye-uh) ]

For Jews (see also Jews) and Christians (see also Christian), the promised “anointed one” or Christ; the Savior. Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah who delivered mankind from its sins. Jews believe that the Messiah has not yet come.

Cultural definitions for messianic (2 of 3)

Messiah
[ (muh-seye-uh) ]

In Judaism and Christianity, the promised “anointed one” or Christ; the Savior. Christians (see also Christian) believe that Jesus was the Messiah who delivered mankind from original sin (see also original sin). Jews (see also Jews) believe that the Messiah has not yet come.

Cultural definitions for messianic (3 of 3)

Messiah
[ (muh-seye-uh) ]

An oratorio by George Frederick Handel on the life of Jesus. Written for solo singers, chorus, and orchestra, it contains the “Hallelujah Chorus.” In the United States, it is often sung during the Christmas season.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.