Brahman

/'brɑ:min/ Cách viết khác : (brahman) /'brɑ:mən/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A member of the highest Hindu caste, traditionally priests and scholars: In Hinduism, a Brahman is a member of the priestly and intellectual class, the highest of the four main social divisions (varnas).
    • A breed of cattle: A Brahman is a type of large, humped cattle, originally from India, known for its heat tolerance and now bred in many parts of the world.
    • (Often capitalized) A member of a cultural or intellectual elite: In American cultural context, especially historically, a Brahman refers to a person from a long-established, upper-class family, particularly in New England, noted for intellectual and cultural leadership.
Examples of Usage
  • Noun (Hindu caste):
    • The ritual was performed by a learned Brahman.
    • Traditionally, Brahmans were responsible for teaching and preserving sacred texts.
  • Noun (cattle breed):
    • The ranch specializes in raising Brahman cattle for their resilience.
    • The grey Brahman is well-adapted to hot climates.
  • Noun (cultural elite):
    • He was considered a Boston Brahman, with a lineage tracing back to the Mayflower.
    • The club was once the domain of the city's Brahmans.
Advanced Usage
  • "Boston Brahman": A specific term for a member of a traditional, influential, and often intellectual upper-class family from Boston, Massachusetts.
    • Her writing reflected the values and concerns of the Boston Brahman class.
Variants and Related Words
  • Brahmin: This is the more common spelling, especially for the social/caste and cultural elite meanings. The spellings "Brahman" and "Brahmin" are often used interchangeably.
    • He is a true Brahmin of the literary world.
  • Brahmanical / Brahminical (adj): Pertaining to Brahmans or their practices.
    • Brahmanical traditions emphasize ritual purity.
  • Brahmanism (n): An early stage of Hinduism centered on rituals performed by Brahmans.
Synonyms
  • Priest (for the Hindu caste role):
  • Elite, Aristocrat (for the cultural meaning):
Notes on Meaning
  • The word has three distinct, common meanings: a Hindu priestly caste member, a breed of cattle, and a member of a social elite. The context of the sentence makes the intended meaning clear.
  • When referring to the Hindu concept of the ultimate, formless reality, the term is Brahman (neuter, universal spirit), which is a different, though related, concept from the caste member Brahman/Brahmin (masculine). This spiritual concept is typically not pluralized.
    • The yogi sought union with Brahman (the universal spirit).
    • The Brahmans (the priests) conducted the ceremony.
Noun
  1. any of several breeds of Indian cattle; especially a large American heat and tick resistant greyish humped breed evolved in the Gulf States by interbreeding Indian cattle and now used chiefly for crossbreeding
  2. the highest of the four varnas: the priestly or sacerdotal category
  3. a member of the highest of the four Hindu varnas
    • originally all brahmans were priests
  4. a member of a social and cultural elite (especially a descendant of an old New England family)
    • a Boston brahman

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