Messiah

[ mi-sahy-uh ]
See synonyms for Messiah on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the Messiah, the promised and expected deliverer of the Jewish people.

  2. the Messiah, Jesus Christ, regarded by Christians as fulfilling the Old Testament promise and expectation of a deliverer.

  1. Usually messiah . any expected deliverer or savior: Despite the promise and potential that his election represents, we have to accept that our desire for a messiah to bring us sweeping change is not realistic.

  2. Usually messiah . a zealous leader of some cause or project: She was a charismatic, powerful messiah who led her party to numerous political victories.

  3. (italics) an oratorio (1742) by George Frideric Handel.

Origin of Messiah

1
First recorded before 900; 1660–70 for def. 4; from Late Latin Messīās, from Greek Messī́ās, from Aramaic mĕshîkha, from Hebrew māshîakh, literally, “anointed,” from māshakh “to anoint”
  • Also Douay Bible, Mes·si·as [mi-sahy-uhs] /mɪˈsaɪ əs/ (for defs. 1, 2).

Other words from Messiah

  • Mes·si·ah·ship, noun
  • Mes·si·an·ic [mes-ee-an-ik], /ˌmɛs iˈæn ɪk/, adjective
  • Mes·si·an·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • pre-Mes·si·an·ic, adjective
  • pseu·do-Mes·si·an·ic, adjective

Words Nearby Messiah

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use Messiah in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for Messiah

Messiah

/ (mɪˈsaɪə) /


noun
  1. Judaism the awaited redeemer of the Jews, to be sent by God to free them

  2. Jesus Christ, when regarded in this role

  1. an exceptional or hoped for liberator of a country or people

Origin of Messiah

1
C14: from Old French Messie, ultimately from Hebrew māshīach anointed

Derived forms of Messiah

  • Messiahship, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for Messiah (1 of 3)

Messiah

[ (muh-seye-uh) ]


For Jews (see also Jews) and Christians (see also Christian), the promised “anointed one” or Christ; the Savior. Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah who delivered mankind from its sins. Jews believe that the Messiah has not yet come.

Messiah

[ (muh-seye-uh) ]


In Judaism and Christianity, the promised “anointed one” or Christ; the Savior. Christians (see also Christian) believe that Jesus was the Messiah who delivered mankind from original sin (see also original sin). Jews (see also Jews) believe that the Messiah has not yet come.

Messiah

[ (muh-seye-uh) ]


An oratorio by George Frederick Handel on the life of Jesus. Written for solo singers, chorus, and orchestra, it contains the “Hallelujah Chorus.” In the United States, it is often sung during the Christmas season.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.