Yeshivoth

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A network of institutions that prioritize Jewish educational teachings and practices
2. Institutions focused on advanced Jewish religious studies and learning
3. Centers dedicated to the study of traditional Jewish texts and law

Etymology: "Yeshivoth" is the plural of "yeshivah," a Hebrew noun meaning "sitting" or "session," drawn from the verb "yashav," to sit or dwell. The sense of a place of study grew from the idea of a gathering where scholars sat together to learn, so the institutions are named for the act of sitting down over the texts. Because Hebrew nouns of this type form their plurals with "-ot," the ordinary plural would be "yeshivot." The spelling "yeshivoth," with a final "th," reflects an older English transliteration convention that represents the Hebrew sound of the tav, which is typically rendered as "t" or "th" depending on the system used.