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ecclesiasteses

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Ec⋅cle⋅si⋅as⋅tes

[i-klee-zee-as-teez]
–noun
a book of the Bible. Abbreviation: Eccl., Eccles.

Origin:
< LL < Gk ekklēsiasts assemblyman, preacher, equiv. to ekklēsí(a) ecclesia + -astēs, var. of -istēs -ist after a vowel
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Cultural Dictionary

Ecclesiastes [(i-klee-zee-as-teez)]

A book in the Old Testament containing the reflections of a philosopher known as “the Preacher.” “Vanity of vanity saith the Preacher, &ellipsis; all is vanity,” where the word “vanity” indicates that striving is in vain, because death comes to all, and “there is no new thing under the sun.” He believes that our character and achievements do not affect our fate. “The race is not to the swift nor to the strong.” He concludes that one should enjoy the good things found in life until death brings oblivion. The argument and tone of this book are very unlike those of the other books of the Bible. (See nothing new under the sun, A time to be born and a time to die, and Vanity of vanities; all is vanity.)

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

Ecclesiastes 
c.1300, name given to one of the O.T. books, traditionally ascribed to Solomon, from Gk. ekklesiastes (see ecclesiastic), to render Heb. qoheleth "one who addresses an assembly," from qahal "assembly." The title is technically the designation of the speaker, but that word throughout is usually rendered into Eng. as "The Preacher."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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