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Webster 1913 Edition


Bethlehem

Beth′le-hem

,
Noun.
[Heb.
bēth-lekhem
house of food;
bēth
house +
lekhem
food,
lākham
to eat. Formerly the name of a hospital for the insane, in London, which had been the priory of St. Mary of Bethlehem. Cf.
Bedlam
.]
1.
A hospital for lunatics; – corrupted into
bedlam
.
2.
(Arch.)
In the Ethiopic church, a small building attached to a church edifice, in which the bread for the eucharist is made.
Audsley.

Webster 1828 Edition


Bethlehem

BETH'LEHEM

,
Noun.
[Heb. the house of food or bread.]
1.
A town or village in Judea, about six miles south-east of Jerusalem; famous for its being the place of Christ's nativity.
2.
A hospital for lunatics; corrupted into bedlam.

Definition 2024


Bethlehem

Bethlehem

See also: Bethléhem

English

Proper noun

Bethlehem

  1. A city in the West Bank, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus.
    1611, Bible (KJV): Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem

Translations

Noun

Bethlehem (plural Bethlehems)

  1. (obsolete) A lunatic asylum.
  2. (architecture) In the Ethiopic church, a small building attached to a church edifice, in which the bread for the Eucharist is made.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Audsley to this entry?)

Derived terms


Latin

Pronunciation

Proper noun

Bēthlehem n (indeclinable)

  1. Alternative form of Bēthlehēmum

References