Messiah Meaning
/məˈsaɪ.ə/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe one who is ordained by God to lead the people of Israel, believed by Christians and Muslims to be Jesus Christ.
nounA similar religious figure or awaited divine ruler, such as the Islamic Mahdi.
Sentence Examples
We have found the Messiah.
According to Judaism, Elijah will return to herald the coming of the Messiah.
If Jesus is a messiah of any group of people, it can't be the Jews.
CEFR Practice Quiz
According to apocalyptic prophecy, the ____ will come to establish a perfect kingdom.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Many people looked toward the charismatic leader as a ____ who would lead them to a better and brighter future.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Aramaic ܡ ܫ ܚder. Aramaic ܡܫܺܝܚܳܐ (məšīḥā)bor. Hebrew מָשַׁח Biblical Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ (māšîaḥ)der. Ancient Greek Μεσσῑ́ᾱς (Messī́ās)bor. Latin Messīāsbor. Middle English Messyasder. English messiah From Middle English Messyas, Messy, Messie, from Latin Messīās, from Hellenistic Ancient Greek Μεσσίας (Messías), from Aramaic ܡܫܺܝܚܳܐ (məšīḥā), from Biblical Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ (māšîaḥ, “anointed”). Doublet of Masih and Moshiach.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The spice exists on only one planet in the entire universe- a desolate, dry planet with vast deserts. Hidden away within the rocks of these deserts are a people known as the Fremen, who have long held a prophecy, that a man would come, a messiah, who would lead them to true freedom. The planet is Arrakis, also known as Dune."
— 1984, 1:50 from the start, in Dune (Science Fiction), spoken by Princess Irulan, →OCLC:
"At its best, psychoanalysis is the classic therapeutic technique for exploring unconscious processes. At its less-than-best, it is a jargon-opacified oedipus-complicated, libido-theoretical, pseudo-scientific cult whose messiah is Sigmund Freud."
— 1979 August 11, Lawrence Mass, “Psychiatry on Trial”, in Gay Community News, volume 7, number 4, page 8:
"Girlie, as far as you're concerned, I'm the messiah of the DMV. Now, get out of the car."
— 1995, Amy Heckerling, Clueless, spoken by DMV tester (Ron Orbach):
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
According to apocalyptic prophecy, the ____ will come to establish a perfect kingdom.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Many people looked toward the charismatic leader as a ____ who would lead them to a better and brighter future.