bible
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈbaɪbəl/
rhymes: -aɪbəl
Forms: form: bibles
Etymology: From Middle English bible, from Middle Latin biblia (“book”) (misinterpreted as a feminine from earlier Latin neuter plural biblia (“books”)), from Ancient Greek βιβλία (biblía, “books”), plural of βιβλίον (biblíon, “small book”), originally a diminutive of βίβλος (bíblos, “book”), from βύβλος (búblos, “papyrus”) (from the ancient Phoenician city of Byblos which exported this writing material).
Old English used biblioþēce (from βιβλιοθήκη) and ġewritu (> English writs) for "the Scriptures".
Senses: examples: text: The bible was used by Presley throughout his life until his death on 16 August 1977 and contains his handwritten notes, thoughts and annotations.
ref: 2012 September 8, Cass Jones, “Elvis Presley's bible sells for £59,000”, in The Guardian:
glosses: Alternative letter-case form of Bible (“a specific version, edition, translation, or copy of the Christian religious text”).
examples: text: The Buddhist bible tells this story of Buddha’s time of temptation when he was living as a hermit on the Mount of Snow.
ref: 1925, Etsu Inagaki Sugimoto, A Daughter of the Samurai, page 76:
glosses: Alternative letter-case form of Bible (“the analogous holy book of another religion”).
examples: text: handyman’s bible
text: Computer Lib was written as a popular primer, but its most profound effect was on computer programmers, who needed little persuasion about the value of computers. […] Having set out to appeal to the general public, Nelson managed to publish an insider's bible and highly intimate guide to hacker culture.
ref: 1995 June, Gary Wolf, “The Curse of Xanadu”, in Wired Magazine:
text: For example, Wired—the monthly bible of the ‘virtual class’—has uncritically reproduced the views of Newt Gingrich, […]
ref: 1995 September, Richard Barbrook, Andy Cameron, “The Californian Ideology”, in Mute, volume 1, number 3, →ISSN:
glosses: A comprehensive manual that describes something, or a publication with a loyal readership.
topics: broadcasting
film
media
television
video-games
glosses: A reference document used by screenwriters, with information on characters, settings, and other elements of a project.
examples: text: Could you please add these to the case bible?
topics: law
glosses: A binder containing copies of the most important documents for a particular matter.
topics: nautical
transport
glosses: Synonym of holystone: a piece of sandstone used for scouring wooden decks on ships.
synonyms: word: holystone
extra: a piece of sandstone used for scouring wooden decks on ships
examples: text: My friend’s a genius, he will give me problems one through nine. The bible of a sophomore will have the needed lines.
ref: 1965, Matt Fichtenbaum, Dan Murphy, “The Institute Screw”, in The Broadside of Boston, volume III, number 22:
qualifier: at certain US universities
glosses: A compilation of problems and solutions from previous years of a given course, used by some students to cheat on tests or assignments.
synonyms: psalterium
omasum
manyplies
fardel
glosses: Omasum, the third compartment of the stomach of ruminants
glosses: The upper part of a pin-tumbler lock, containing the driver pins and springs.
Derived terms: bible-black
bible leaf
bible literalist
bible society
blue bible
smuggler's bible
Tijuana bible
Related terms: biblical