Bible

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbaɪbəl/

Definitions

1. A revered collection of texts considered sacred by Christians, encompassing historical accounts and moral teachings meant to guide believers in faith and conduct
2. A foundational scripture in Christianity that includes various literary forms aimed at informing spiritual beliefs, practices, and moral values of adherents
3. A significant religious manuscript that serves as a guide for ethical behavior and spiritual guidance among followers of Christianity, containing diverse literary works and teachings

Etymology: The most surprising thing about "bible" is that it began as a word for papyrus. Ancient Greek "bublos" named the papyrus plant, and the city of Byblos in Phoenicia was a major exporter of the writing material made from it. From that place-linked plant name came "biblos," meaning "book," and then "biblion," a small book. Its plural, "biblia," meaning "books," is the grammatical root of the modern word. The mix-up that gave us the English word happened in Latin. "Biblia" was a neuter plural, but medieval Latin speakers reinterpreted it as a feminine singular, meaning "the book" rather than "the books." That reading passed into Middle English as "bible," and the word came to mean the collection of sacred writings above all others. Old English had its own terms for this, such as "biblioþēce," borrowed from Greek "bibliothēkē," and "ġewritu," meaning "writings," which is why the Scriptures were once simply "the writs."

Synonyms: scripture, holy book, religious text, canon, gospel