Elisabeth

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A female given name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my oath," commonly used in various cultures and often associated with historical and royal figures
2. A personal name derived from a biblical source, typically assigned to females and recognized for its royal and religious significance across different languages
3. A traditional feminine name rooted in ancient texts, known for its widespread adoption in Christian societies and linked to numerous notable persons and monarchs

Etymology: The name began in Hebrew as "Elishéva," meaning "my God is an oath," and it is the name of Aaron's wife in the Hebrew Bible. Its Greek form, "Elisábet," carried the name into the New Testament, where it belongs to the mother of John the Baptist. That Greek spelling is the one the Authorized Version of the New Testament kept, so English readers of that translation met the name in this form. The name then followed a path shared by many English given names. Its Latin and French descendants gave us the familiar version we use today, and the English spelling "Elizabeth" settled in with the "z" that the Greek "s" had become in those later forms. The Greek spelling "Elisabet" survived in English mainly in the Authorized Version, where it stood as a distinct spelling of the same name.

Synonyms: Elizabeth, Elisabet, Elisabetta