Wise Men
Gentile sages who visited Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in Bethlehem shortly after the birth of Jesus. According to the Gospel of Matthew, they were guided by a star and brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Because three gifts were given, the traditional story is that there were three wise men. (See Magi.)
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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.
Examples from the Web for wise men
Historical Examples
Then the King called the wise-men together, and for forty days and nights they read the books and studied the stars.
The king did not take any measure of importance without the advice of his councillors, who were known as the Witan, or Wise-men.
A History of EnglandCharles Oman
The celebrated orators, wise-men, and war-chiefs of the Iroquois were chiefs of the second grade almost without exception.
Ancient SocietyLewis Henry Morgan
The Keepers of the Faith were about as numerous as the chiefs, and were selected by the wise-men and matrons of each gens.
Ancient SocietyLewis Henry Morgan
On Easter-day, therefore, he preached before the king and his nobles, and strove with the captious objections of the Wise-men.
The Lives of the Saints, Volume III (of 16): MarchSabine Baring-Gould