James
proper nouncommon in dialogue
- //d͡ʒeɪmz//
The twentieth book of the New Testament of the Bible, the general epistle of James.
proper noun
- 1
The twentieth book of the New Testament of the Bible, the general epistle of James.
- 2
One of two Apostles, James the Greater and James the Less, often identified with James, brother of Jesus.
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
- 3
A male given name from Hebrew popular since the Middle Ages. Also a common middle name.
[…] And Normans call me James Fitz-James. / Thus watch I o'er insulted laws, / Thus learn to right the injured cause. […]
Heaven only knows why a man with a strong biblical name like James wants to be a president named Jimmy.
In the political drama that Donald Trump has created in Washington, he could not have dreamed up a more formidable adversary than James Comey.
- 4
An English surname originating as a patronymic.
- 5
A placename An unincorporated community in Jones County, Georgia, United States.
- 6
A placename An unincorporated community in Plymouth County, Iowa, United States.
- 7
A placename A township in Timiskaming District, north-eastern Ontario, Canada.
- 8
A placename Former name of Santiago: an island of Galapagos, Ecuador.
Etymology
The English New Testament form of Jacob, from Middle English James, from Old French James, from Vulgar Latin Iācōmus, spoken and altered pronunciation of Latin Iācōbus, from Ancient Greek Ἰάκωβος (Iákōbos), from Ἰακώβ (Iakṓb), from Biblical Hebrew יַעֲקֹב (yaʿăqōḇ, literally “May He Heel”), from the third-person singular masculine imperfective form of the Semitic verb "to heel" (with various meanings), in turn from עָקֵב (ʿāqēḇ, “heel of the foot”). Doublet of Jacques, Jacob, Iago, Jago, Yago, Hamish, Seamus, Tiago, Santiago, and Yaakov. In reference to the Ecuadorian island, a modification of the earlier name Duke of York's Island after its eponymous duke's coronation as James II of England See Occitan Jacme for an intermediary between Old French James and Catalan Jaume.
Forms
- plural
- Jameses
James · The twentieth book of the New Testament of the Bible, the general epistle of James.
Jameson · A Scottish and Northern Irish surname originating as a…Jamie · A unisex given name. A diminutive of the male given name…jammed · Stuck.