Siddurim

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of Jewish prayer book containing the liturgy for daily, Sabbath, and holiday services
2. A bound collection of prayers traditionally used in Jewish worship, reflecting various rituals and religious observances
3. A resource for communal and individual prayers, often including blessings, readings, and meditations used throughout the year

Etymology: "Siddurim" is the plural of "siddur," the Hebrew word for a Jewish prayer book. The singular comes from Hebrew סִידּוּר, a noun meaning "arrangement" or "order," drawn from the verb root sidder, "to arrange" or "to put in order." The name reflects the book's purpose: it is a collection of prayers and blessings set out in a fixed sequence for daily, Sabbath, and festival use. The plural follows the Hebrew pattern for masculine nouns, which adds "-im" rather than the English "-s," so "siddurim" means several prayer books. Readers encountering it in English text will often see it used alongside the English-style plural "siddurs," though the Hebrew form is the more traditional choice.

Synonyms: prayer books, liturgical books