English

Proper noun

Benjamin ‎(plural Benjamins)

1. The youngest of the sons of Jacob and Rachel in the Bible.
   • 1611, Bible (KJV), Genesis 35:18::

     And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.

   • 1908, George Bernard Shaw, Getting Married:

     What about the youngest child - the Benjamin - the child of its parents' mature strength and charity, always better treated than the unfortunate eldest children of their youthful ignorance and wilfulness?

2. A male given name of biblical origin.
   • 2007 Mark Schreiber, Starcrossed, Llewellyn Worldwide, ISBN 0738710016, page 53:

     "Well, who the **** ever thinks some boy with a name like Benjamin is going to kill someone?" I said. "It's like someone named Winnie the Pooh taking hostages!"

Translations

Noun

Benjamin ‎(plural Benjamins)

1. (US, slang) A US$100 bill, which bears a portrait of Benjamin Franklin. Often used in the plural form to indicate large sums of money.
   • 2006 April 12, Dean Ornish, "Health Care: It's All About the Benjamins", in Newsweek
   • 2002, All About the Benjamins
   • 2007, Martha Baer, "It's Not All About The Benjamins", in Tango Magazine

Synonyms

• Franklin

See also

• Robert Borden

Related terms

• pet forms: Ben, Benji, Benjy, Benny

Danish

Proper noun

Benjamin

1. Benjamin (Biblical figure)
2. A male given name.

Related terms

• Benny

Faroese

Etymology

From Late Latin Benjamin, from Ancient Greek Βενιαμίν ‎(Beniamín), from Biblical Hebrew בִּנְיָמִין ‎(binyamīn, literally “son of the right [hand]”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɛn.ja.ˌmin/

Proper noun

Benjamin m

1. (biblical) Benjamin
2. A male given name.

Usage notes

• son of Benjamin: Benjaminsson
• daughter of Benjamin: Benjaminsdóttir

Declension

Finnish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈbenjɑmin]
• Hyphenation: Ben‧ja‧min

Proper noun

Benjamin

1. A male given name.
   • 1923 Frans Hjalmar Nortamo, Helmikoristeinen kirjanmerkki, WSOY (1947), page 33:

     Rovasti oli sitä paitsi arvellut olevan parasta, että Penua tästä lähtien ruvettaisiin kutsumaan Kustaaksi, koska nimi Benjamin ja sen lyhennys Penu varmasti antaisi hänen koulutovereilleen aihetta pilan tekoon ja härnäilemiseen.

2. Benjamin (Biblical figure)
   • 1933 Pyhä Raamattu 1 Moos.35:18:

     Mutta kun hänen henkensä oli lähtemäisillään, sillä hänen oli kuoltava, antoi hän hänelle nimen Benoni, mutta hänen isänsä antoi hänelle nimen Benjamin.

     And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. (KJV Genesis 35:18)

Declension

Related terms

• (given names) Benjam, Benjami, Jami
• (surnames) Pennanen

Proper noun

Benjamin

1. Genitive singular form of Benjam.

French

Proper noun

Benjamin

1. Benjamin (Biblical figure)
2. A male given name.

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈbɛnjamiːn]
• Hyphenation: Ben‧ja‧min

Proper noun

Benjamin

1. Benjamin (Biblical figure)
2. A male given name; diminutive: Ben

Latin

Etymology

Borrowing from Ancient Greek Βενιαμίν ‎(Beniamín)

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈben.ja.min/, [ˈbɛn.ja.mĩ]

Proper noun

Benjamin m ‎(indeclinable)

1. (Late Latin) Benjamin (the youngest son of the Hebrew patriarch Jacob)

Related terms

• Benjamītae

Descendants

• English: Benjamin
• Faroese: Benjamin

References

• Benjămin in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• Félix Gaffiot (1934), “Benjamin”, in Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Paris: Hachette, page 214/3.

Manx

Proper noun

Benjamin m

1. A male given name.

Mutation

Norwegian

Proper noun

Benjamin

1. Benjamin (Biblical figure)
2. A male given name.

Swedish

Proper noun

Benjamin

1. Benjamin (Biblical figure)
2. A male given name.

Related terms

• Benny

English

Noun

benjamin ‎(plural benjamins)

1. A balsamic resin from the bark of Styrax trees used in perfumes, incense, and medicine; benzoin resin.
2. A type of tree which produces benzoin or has similar properties; specifically, Styrax benzoin, Lindera benzoin, or Ficus benjamina; a Benjamin bush.
3. (Britain, informal, dated) A kind of upper coat for men.
   • 1826, The Atheneum: Volume 18, page 236

     something which is not long enough to constitute a benjamin, and too long for a dress coat or spencer

See also

• Benjamin tree on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Etymology 2

From the image of Benjamin Franklin on the US $100 bill.

Noun

benjamin ‎(plural benjamins)

1. (US, slang) Alternative form of Benjamin: a US $100 bill.

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bɛ̃.ʒa.mɛ̃/

Etymology 1

From the biblical character Benjamin.

Noun

benjamin m ‎(plural benjamins, feminine benjamine)

1. youngest child
2. (sports) One of the age classes for children; varies by sport.

Etymology 2

After French Scrabble player Benjamin Hannuna.

Noun

benjamin m ‎(plural benjamins)

1. (Scrabble) A three-letter addition to the beginning of a word that creates another valid word, especially one that reaches a "triple word score" square.