Bible

[bahy-buhl]

noun

1. the collection of sacred writings of the Christian religion, comprising the Old and New Testaments.

2. Hebrew Bible.

3. Often bible the sacred writings of any religion.

4. bible, any book, reference work, periodical, etc., accepted as authoritative, informative, or reliable.

   He regarded that particular bird book as the birdwatchers' bible.

Bible

/ ˈbaɪbəl /

noun

1. 1. the sacred writings of the Christian religion, comprising the Old and New Testaments and, in the Roman Catholic Church, the Apocrypha

   2. ( as modifier )

      a Bible reading

2. the English name for Tanach

3. (often not capital) any book containing the sacred writings of a religion

4. (usually not capital) a book regarded as authoritative

   the angler's bible

Bible

¹

1. The book sacred to Christians (see also Christian), which they consider to be the inspired word of God. The Bible includes the Old Testament, which contains the sacred books of the Jews (see also Jews), and the New Testament, which begins with the birth of Jesus. Thirty-nine books of the Old Testament are accepted as part of the Bible by Christians and Jews alike. Some Christians consider several books of the Old Testament, such as Judith, I and II Maccabees, and Ecclesiasticus, to be part of the Bible also, whereas other Christians, and Jews, call these the Old Testament Apocrypha. Christians are united in their acceptance of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament; Jews do not consider the writings of the New Testament inspired. The Bible is also called “the Book” (bible means “book”).

Bible

²

1. The book sacred to Christians (see also Christian), containing the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament contains the writings sacred to the Jews (see also Jews).

By extension, any book considered an infallible or very reliable guide to some activity may be called a “bible.”

Other Word Forms

• anti-Bible adjective
• pro-Bible adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Bible¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English bible, bibel, from Old French bible, from Medieval Latin biblia (feminine singular), from Greek, in tà biblía tà hagía (Septuagint) “the holy books,” plural of biblíon, byblíon “papyrus roll, strip of papyrus,” equivalent to býbl(os) “papyrus” (after Býblos, a Phoenician port where papyrus was prepared and exported) + -ion noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of Bible¹

C13: from Old French, from Medieval Latin biblia books, from Greek, plural of biblion book, diminutive of biblos papyrus, from Bublos Phoenician port from which Greece obtained Egyptian papyrus

Example Sentences

Taylor went immediately to the Bible and its teachings.

From Salon

The Patriot Shop also lists a “Holy Bible” signed by “America’s Favorite Governor!” for $100, but it’s marked “SOLD OUT!”

From Los Angeles Times

When she published her second cookbook, “It’s All Good,” in 2013, The Atlantic called it the “Bible of Laughable Hollywood Neuroticism” and said she “had gone over the edge.”

From Salon

The musician holed up in his bedroom, with a gun in the pocket and a Bible in his hand, and steady visits from his drug dealers.

From Los Angeles Times

There’s accuracy in that; they don’t call those states the Bible belt for nothing.

From Salon