Judas
/'dʤu:dəs/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A one-way peephole in a door: A small, covered opening in a door or wall that allows a person to secretly observe the area on the other side.
- A treacherous person, a betrayer: Someone who betrays another, especially under the guise of friendship or loyalty. This meaning originates from the biblical figure.
- (New Testament) The Apostle who betrayed Jesus: One of the twelve original disciples of Jesus Christ, who betrayed him to the authorities for thirty pieces of silver.
- (New Testament) A different Apostle, also called Thaddaeus: One of the twelve Apostles, distinguished from Judas Iscariot, sometimes identified as the brother of St. James and invoked in desperate situations.
Usage Examples
Noun (Peephole):
- The guard watched the prisoners through the judas in the cell door.
- Many apartment doors have a judas for security.
Noun (Betrayer):
- He was a judas in their midst, leaking company secrets to a rival.
- She felt like a judas for telling her friend's secret.
Noun (Biblical Apostle, Iscariot):
- Judas Iscariot is infamous for his betrayal of Jesus with a kiss.
- The story of Judas is a lesson in betrayal and remorse.
Noun (Biblical Apostle, Thaddaeus):
- St. Jude, also known as Judas Thaddaeus, is the patron saint of lost causes.
Advanced Usage
- "Judas kiss": An act of betrayal disguised as a sign of affection or friendship. This idiom comes directly from the biblical story where Judas identified Jesus to the soldiers by kissing him.
- His public praise was nothing but a Judas kiss before he launched his criticism.
Variants and Related Words
- Judas-hole (n): Another term for a peephole. This is a compound word.
- He peered through the judas-hole.
- Judas Iscariot (n): The full name used to specify the betrayer of Jesus.
- Judas tree (n): A type of tree (genus ), with a folk legend that Judas Iscariot hanged himself from such a tree.
Synonyms
- Betrayer: One who betrays a trust.
- Traitor: One who betrays a cause, country, or person.
- Informant: One who gives information (often secretly), which can imply betrayal.
- Peephole: A small hole to look through (for the architectural meaning).
Related Phrases
- Play the Judas: To act as a betrayer.
- He played the Judas and sold out his teammates.
Noun
- a one-way peephole in a door
- someone who betrays under the guise of friendship
- (New Testament) the Apostle who betrayed Jesus to his enemies for 30 pieces of silver
- (New Testament) supposed brother of St. James; one of the Apostles who is invoked in prayer when a situation seems hopeless