daniel
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Proper noun:
- A male given name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my judge."
- A prophet in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), known for his wisdom, interpretation of dreams, and divine protection.
- The book of the Bible named after the prophet Daniel, containing narratives and apocalyptic visions.
Usage Examples
- Proper noun (Name):
- Daniel is a very common name in many English-speaking countries.
- My colleague's name is Daniel, but we call him Dan.
- Proper noun (Biblical Figure):
- In the Bible, Daniel was known for interpreting King Nebuchadnezzar's dream.
- The story of Daniel in the lions' den is a well-known biblical account.
- Proper noun (Biblical Book):
- The prophecies in the Book of Daniel are studied by many scholars.
- We read a passage from Daniel during the service.
Advanced Usage
- "a Daniel come to judgment": This is a literary idiom, originating from Shakespeare's (Act IV, Scene I). It is used to describe a person, especially a young or unexpected one, who shows great wisdom and fairness in making a difficult decision or judgment.
- The junior lawyer's brilliant argument settled the case; he was like a Daniel come to judgment.
Variants and Related Words
- Dan (n): A common short form or nickname for Daniel.
- Hi, I'm Dan.
- Danny (n): Another common diminutive or familiar form of Daniel.
- Danny is coming over later.
Synonyms
- Arbiter: A person who settles a dispute or has ultimate authority in a matter. (Relates to the meaning of the name and the "judgment" idiom.)
- Prophet: A person regarded as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God. (Relates to the biblical figure.)
- Seer: A person who is supposed to be able, through supernatural insight, to see what the future holds. (Relates to Daniel's ability to interpret dreams and visions.)
Idioms Related
- "A Daniel in the lions' den": Used to describe a person in a very dangerous or hostile situation, often facing aggressive opponents, who remains calm and survives through faith, integrity, or wisdom. This derives directly from the biblical story.
- The whistleblower felt like a Daniel in the lions' den when testifying before the hostile committee.
Noun
- an Old Testament book that tells of the apocalyptic visions and the experiences of Daniel in the court of Nebuchadnezzar
- a wise and upright judge
- a Daniel come to judgment -- Shakespeare
- (Old Testament) a youth who was taken into the court of Nebuchadnezzar and given divine protection when thrown into a den of lions (6th century BC)