Saint Joseph

Variant of Joseph

Joseph definition

Jo·seph (jō′zəf, -səf)

noun

  1. a masculine name: dim. Joe, Joey; equiv. L. Josephus, It. Giuseppe, Sp. José; fem. Josepha, Josephine
  2. Bible
    1. Jacob's eleventh son, whose mother was Rachel: Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt by his jealous brothers but became a high official there: Gen. 30:22-24; 37; 45
    2. the husband of Mary, mother of Jesus: Matt. 1:18-25: his day is March 19
      also called Saint Joseph

  3. Etymology: in allusion to Joseph's coat: Gen. 37:3

    a woman's long riding coat, with a cape, worn in the 18th cent.

Etymology: LL(Ec) < Gr(Ec) Iōsēph < Heb yōsēph, lit., may he add: see Gen. 30:24

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.