Rebecca

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A feminine given name of Hebrew origin meaning "to bind" or "to tie" typically associated with kindness and beauty
2. An example of a biblical name linked to the wife of Isaac, often representing loyalty and faithfulness in various cultures
3. A popular name in numerous English-speaking countries, symbolizing grace and charm among its bearers

Etymology: The name's English form owes its spelling to Latin. In the Vulgate, the Latin Bible translated by Jerome, the wife of Isaac appears as "Rebecca", a spelling that differs from the Hebrew "Rivka" that the Old Testament uses. English readers therefore met the name through the Latin text, and the familiar "Rebecca" is a Latinized rendering of the Hebrew original. The Hebrew "Rivka" is usually glossed as "enchantingly beautiful" or "captivating," though it can also carry the sense of "snare." That double meaning is a striking one: a single name could praise a woman's charm while also hinting at the trap such charm might set. Biblical narrative gives the name its wider reach, since Rebecca's hospitality at the well and her role in securing Isaac's blessing for Jacob made her one of the Genesis matriarchs.

Synonyms: Rebecca