benjamin
/'bendʤəmin/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A male given name: "Benjamin" is a common masculine first name of Hebrew origin, meaning "son of the right hand" or "son of the south."
- The youngest son of Jacob and Rachel in the Bible: In the Old Testament, Benjamin was the twelfth and youngest son of the patriarch Jacob, and the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
- (Archaic) A type of aromatic resin: Historically, "benjamin" was a term for benzoin, a balsamic resin obtained from certain trees, used in perfumes, incense, and medicine.
Examples of Usage
- Noun (Proper Name):
- Noun (Biblical Figure):
- Noun (Resin - Archaic): (Historical/archaic usage)
Advanced Usage
- "Benjamin's mess": An archaic idiom referring to a disproportionately large or favored portion, especially one given to the youngest. This originates from the biblical story where Joseph gave his youngest brother Benjamin a portion five times larger than that of his other brothers (Genesis 43:34).
Variants and Related Words
- Ben: A common short form or nickname for Benjamin.
- Benji/Benjy: Affectionate or informal diminutives of Benjamin.
- Benzoin: The modern term for the aromatic resin historically called "benjamin."
Synonyms
- Youngest child: The baby, the last-born. (For the relational sense derived from the biblical figure)
- Gum benzoin: Benzoin resin, gum benjamin. (For the archaic resin meaning)
Related Phrases
- Tribe of Benjamin: Refers specifically to the Israelite tribe descended from the biblical Benjamin.
- Son of my right hand: The etymological meaning of the Hebrew name "Binyamin," from which Benjamin is derived.
Noun
- (Old Testament) the youngest and best-loved son of Jacob and Rachel and one of the twelve forebears of the tribes of Israel
- gum resin used especially in treating skin irritation