bible

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".

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ˈbaɪbəl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɪbəl

bible (plural bibles)

1. Alternative letter-case form of Bible (“a specific version, edition, translation, or copy of the Christian religious text”)
   • 2012 September 8, Cass Jones, “Elvis Presley's bible sells for £59,000”, in The Guardian‎:

     The bible was used by Presley throughout his life until his death on 16 August 1977 and contains his handwritten notes, thoughts and annotations.

2. Alternative letter-case form of Bible (“the analogous holy book of another religion”)
   • 1925, Etsu Inagaki Sugimoto, A Daughter of the Samurai, page 76:

     The Buddhist bible tells this story of Buddha’s time of temptation when he was living as a hermit on the Mount of Snow.

3. (by extension) A comprehensive manual that describes something, or a publication with a loyal readership.

   handyman’s bible

   • 1995 June, Gary Wolf, “The Curse of Xanadu”, in Wired Magazine‎:

     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.

   • 1995 September, Richard Barbrook, Andy Cameron, “The Californian Ideology”, in Mute‎, volume 1, number 3, →ISSN:

     For example, Wired—the monthly bible of the ‘virtual class’—has uncritically reproduced the views of Newt Gingrich, […]

4. (law) A binder containing copies of the most important documents for a particular matter.

   Could you please add these to the case bible?

5. (nautical) Synonym of holystone: a piece of sandstone used for scouring wooden decks on ships.
6. (at certain US universities) A compilation of problems and solutions from previous years of a given course, used by some students to cheat on tests or assignments.
   • 1965, Matt Fichtenbaum, Dan Murphy, “The Institute Screw”, in The Broadside of Boston, volume III, number 22:

     My friend’s a genius, he will give me problems one through nine. The bible of a sophomore will have the needed lines.

7. Omasum, the third compartment of the stomach of ruminants

   Synonyms: psalterium, omasum, manyplies, fardel

8. (locksmithing) The upper part of a pin-tumbler lock, containing the driver pins and springs.

• biblical

• Bible

Inherited from Old Czech biblí, from Latin biblia.

• IPA^(key): [ˈbɪblɛ]

bible f (related adjective biblický)

1. Bible

• bible in Příruční slovník jazyka českého, 1935–1957
• bible in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého, 1960–1971, 1989
• bible in Internetová jazyková příručka

• IPA^(key): /bibl/

• Audio

  (file)

bible f (plural bibles)

1. bible (comprehensive text)

• biblique
• bibliste

• “bible”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

• Bible, bibel, bibile, byble, bybill, bibelle, bybulle, bibill

From Old French bible, from Medieval Latin biblia, from biblia), from Ancient Greek βιβλία (biblía).

• IPA^(key): /ˈbiːbəl/

bible

1. The Bible (Christian holy book); a copy of the Bible.
2. (rare) The Koran (Muslim holy book).

• English: Bible
• Scots: Bible

• “bīble, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-06-27.

bible

1. Any book that is of extensive length.
2. A compendium, collection, or storehouse of books.

• English: bible
• Scots: bible

• “bīble, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-06-27.