cherubims

Variant of cherub

cherub definition

cherub (c̸her′əb)

noun pl. cherubs -·ubs, cherubim -·u·bim′ (-yo̵̅o̅ bim′, -ə bim′), cherubims -·u·bims′

  1. Bible one of the winged heavenly beings that support the throne of God or act as guardian spirits: Ezek. 10
  2. Christian Theol. any of the second order of angels, usually ranked just below the seraphim
  3. a representation of one of the cherubim as, in early art, a winged angel clothed in red or, later, a chubby, rosy-faced child with wings
  4. a person, esp. a child, with a sweet, innocent face

Etymology: ME < OE ceruphin < LL(Ec) cherub < Heb kerūbh < Akkadian karūbu, gracious < karābu, to bless

Related Forms:

  • cherubic che·ru′·bic (c̸hə ro̵̅o̅′bik) adjective
  • cherubically che·ru′·bi·cally adverb

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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