Definition

Noun: 1. The Lost Tribes: Refers specifically to the ten of the twelve tribes of Israel (the northern Kingdom of Israel) that were conquered and exiled by the Assyrian Empire around 720 BCE. According to biblical tradition, these tribes were dispersed and their whereabouts became unknown. 2. A group whose whereabouts or fate is unknown: By extension, the term can be used metaphorically to describe any group of people that has disappeared or become isolated from a larger population, with their fate or location being a mystery.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Historical/Biblical):
  • Scholars and explorers have long been fascinated by the mystery of the lost tribes.
  • The biblical account describes the conquest that led to the disappearance of the lost tribes.
• Noun (Metaphorical):
  • The anthropologist searched for a lost tribe deep in the Amazon rainforest.
  • Their family in the old country felt like a lost tribe, completely cut off after the war.

Advanced Usage

• "A lost tribe of": Used to describe a group that seems isolated, forgotten, or distinct within a larger context.
  • The small community of traditional craftsmen was like a lost tribe in the modern city.
• Often appears in speculative, historical, or anthropological discussions about unknown or uncontacted peoples.

Variants and Related Words

• Lost Tribe (singular): Can refer to a single, specific group among the ten, or to any one isolated group.
  • Legends speak of a lost tribe living beyond the mountains.
• Tribe: A social division in a traditional society consisting of families or communities linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties.
• Diaspora: The dispersion of any people from their original homeland (a broader, more modern term often associated with Jewish history).

Synonyms

• Dispersed tribes
• Vanished people
• Missing tribes (less common)

Notes on Meaning

The term has two primary layers: 1. Specific Historical Meaning: This is the primary definition, rooted in the biblical narrative of the Assyrian exile. It is a proper noun concept, often capitalized as "the Lost Tribes." 2. Figurative/General Meaning: This is a metaphorical extension, using the historical concept to describe any similarly lost or isolated group. In this sense, it is usually not capitalized.

Noun

1. the ten Tribes of Israel that were deported into captivity in Assyria around 720 BC (leaving only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin)