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rabbi definition

rabbi (rabī)

noun pl. rabbis -·bis

  1. Judaism a scholar and teacher of the Jewish law; now, specif., an ordained Jew, usually the spiritual head of a congregation, qualified to decide questions of law and ritual and to perform marriages, supervise religious education, etc.
  2. Slang a sponsor; influential friend

Etymology: ME < OE < LL(Ec) < Gr(Ec) rhabbi < Heb rabi, my master, my lord < rav, teacher, master + -i, my

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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