dives
Definition
- Noun:
- A rich person: In biblical contexts, "dives" is a Latin word used to refer to a wealthy man, often specifically associated with the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in the New Testament.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- In the parable, Dives is the rich man who ignores the beggar Lazarus at his gate. (Refers to the wealthy figure in the biblical story.)
- The term "dives" is sometimes used metaphorically to describe any excessively rich person. (A figurative use of the biblical reference.)
Advanced Usage
- "Dives" as a proper noun: In theological and literary contexts, "Dives" is often treated as a name for the rich man in the parable, though it is not a personal name in the original text but a Latin word for "rich."
- Medieval writers frequently portrayed Dives as a symbol of greed and indifference to the poor. (Used as a character archetype in moral tales.)
Variants and Related Words
- Dives (n): No direct variants; the word is primarily used in its original Latin form in English.
Synonyms
- Rich man: a person who possesses great wealth.
- Wealthy individual: a person with abundant financial resources.
- Millionaire: a person whose net worth is at least one million units of currency.
Related Idioms
- "Like Dives and Lazarus": an idiomatic expression referring to extreme inequality between rich and poor.
- The gap between the CEO and the factory workers is like Dives and Lazarus. (Describes a vast disparity in wealth and treatment.)