Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Nearby Words

benjamin

 - 14 dictionary results

ben⋅ja⋅min

  [ben-juh-muhn]
Use benjamin in a Sentence
–noun
benzoin 1 (def. 2).
Origin:
1570–80; alter. (by assoc. with the proper name) of benjoin, early form of benzoin 1

Ben⋅ja⋅min

  [ben-juh-muhn]
–noun
1. the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, and the brother of Joseph. Gen. 35:18.
2. one of the 12 tribes of ancient Israel traditionally descended from him.
3. Asher, 1773–1845, U.S. architect and writer.
4. Judah Philip, 1811–84, Confederate statesman.
5. a male given name: from a Hebrew word meaning “son of the right.”

ben⋅zo⋅in

1  [ben-zoh-in, -zoin, ben-zoh-in]
–noun
1. Also called gum benjamin, gum benzoin. a reddish-brown, aromatic balsamic resin occurring in almondlike fragments and having a vanillalike odor, obtained from trees of the genus Styrax, esp. S. benzoin, of Java, Sumatra, etc.: used in the manufacture of perfume and cosmetics and in medicine internally as an expectorant and externally as an antiseptic.
2. Also called benjamin, benjamin-bush. any plant belonging to the genus Lindera (Benzoin), of the laurel family, including the spicebush and similar aromatic plants.
Origin:
1550–60; earlier benjoin < MF < Pg beijoim and Sp benjuí < Ar lubān jāwī frankincense of Java (lu- prob. constructed as the definite article); z of benzoin < It benzoi ≪ Ar
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To benjamin
ben·ja·min   (běn'jə-mən)   
n.  See benzoin.

[Alteration (influenced by the name Benjamin) of benjoin, benzoin; see benzoin.]
Ben·ja·min   (běn'jə-mən)   
In the Bible, the younger son of Jacob and Rachel and the forebear of one of the tribes of Israel.

[Hebrew binyāmîn, son of the south : bēn, son; see bn in Semitic roots + yāmîn, south; see ymn in Semitic roots.]
Benjamin, Asher 1773-1845.  
American architect particularly noted for his books, such as The American Builder's Companion (1806), which popularized late colonial and Greek Revival designs throughout New England.
Benjamin, Judah Philip 1811-1884.  
British-born American politician who served as Confederate secretary of war (1861-1862) and secretary of state (1862-1865).
ben·zo·in   (běn'zō-ĭn, -zoin')   
n.  

  1. A balsamic resin obtained from certain tropical Asian trees of the genus Styrax and used in perfumery and medicine. Also called benjamin, gum benjamin, gum benzoin.

  2. A white or yellowish crystalline compound, C14H12O2, derived from benzaldehyde.


[Earlier benjoin, from French benjoin and Italian benzoino, both from Arabic lubān jāwī, frankincense of Java; see lbn in Semitic roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary
Benjamin

and Benji
  1. n.
    a one hundred dollar bill. (Bearing a picture of Benjanin Franklin.) : You owe me two Benjamins! , Here's the Benji I owe you.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

Benjamin 
Jacob's youngest son (Gen. xxxv.18), from Heb. Binyamin, lit. "son of the south," though interpreted in Genesis as "son of the right hand," from ben "son of" + yamin "right hand," also "south" (in an East-oriented culture). Cf. Arab cognate yaman "right hand, right side, south;" yamana "he was happy," lit. "he turned to the right." The right was regarded as auspicious (see left and dexterity).

benzoin 
1558, from M.Fr. benjoin, via Sp., Port, or It., from Ar. luban jawi "incense of Java" (actually Sumatra), with lu probably mistaken in Romance languages for a definite article. The Eng. form with -z- is perhaps from influence of It. benzoi (Venetian, 1461).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ben·zo·in
Pronunciation: 'ben-z&-w&n, -"wEn; -"zoin
Function: noun
1 : a hard fragrant yellowish balsamic resinfrom trees (genus Styrax of the family Styracaceae) of southeastern Asia used especially as an expectorant and topically to relieve skin irritations
2 : a white crystallinehydroxy ketone C14H12O2 made from benzaldehyde
3 : a tree yielding benzoin
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Science Dictionary
benzoin   (běn'zō-ĭn, -zoin')  Pronunciation Key 

  1. A resin obtained from the bark of certain tropical Asian trees of the genus Styrax and used in making perfumes and in medicine as an antiseptic.

  2. A very toxic white or yellowish crystalline compound derived from benzaldehyde. It oxidizes easily and is used as a reducing agent. Chemical formula: C14H12O2.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Bible Dictionary

Benjamin

son of my right hand. (1.) The younger son of Jacob by Rachel (Gen. 35:18). His birth took place at Ephrath, on the road between Bethel and Bethlehem, at a short distance from the latter place. His mother died in giving him birth, and with her last breath named him Ben-oni, son of my pain, a name which was changed by his father into Benjamin. His posterity are called Benjamites (Gen. 49:27; Deut. 33:12; Josh. 18:21). The tribe of Benjamin at the Exodus was the smallest but one (Num. 1:36, 37; Ps. 68:27). During the march its place was along with Manasseh and Ephraim on the west of the tabernacle. At the entrance into Canaan it counted 45,600 warriors. It has been inferred by some from the words of Jacob (Gen. 49:27) that the figure of a wolf was on the tribal standard. This tribe is mentioned in Rom. 11:1; Phil. 3:5. The inheritance of this tribe lay immediately to the south of that of Ephraim, and was about 26 miles in length and 12 in breadth. Its eastern boundary was the Jordan. Dan intervened between it and the Philistines. Its chief towns are named in Josh. 18:21-28. The history of the tribe contains a sad record of a desolating civil war in which they were engaged with the other eleven tribes. By it they were almost exterminated (Judg. 20:20, 21; 21:10). (See GIBEAH.) The first king of the Jews was Saul, a Benjamite. A close alliance was formed between this tribe and that of Judah in the time of David (2 Sam. 19:16, 17), which continued after his death (1 Kings 11:13; 12:20). After the Exile these two tribes formed the great body of the Jewish nation (Ezra 1:5; 10:9). The tribe of Benjamin was famous for its archers (1 Sam. 20:20, 36; 2 Sam. 1:22; 1 Chr. 8:40; 12:2) and slingers (Judge. 20:6). The gate of Benjamin, on the north side of Jerusalem (Jer. 37:13; 38:7; Zech. 14:10), was so called because it led in the direction of the territory of the tribe of Benjamin. It is called by Jeremiah (20:2) "the high gate of Benjamin;" also "the gate of the children of the people" (17:19). (Comp. 2 Kings 14:13.)

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
Cite This Source
Search another word or see benjamin on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way