bible
UK[ˈbaɪbl̩]US[ˈbaɪbl̩]
n
The holy book of the Christian religion, consisting of the Old Testament and the New Testament.
n
A copy of the Christian Bible.
n
(often lowercase) A book that is considered the most important or authoritative on a particular subject.
Etymology
The word 'bible' originates from the Latin 'biblia', a singular feminine noun meaning 'the books'. This Latin term was borrowed from the Greek plural 'ta biblia' (τὰ βιβλία), which translates to 'the books'. The Greek 'biblion' (book) is a diminutive of 'byblos', which referred to the papyrus plant or a scroll, named after the Phoenician city of Byblos, a major source of papyrus in antiquity. Thus, the term's journey—from a geographic name for a papyrus-trading port, to the material (papyrus), to a word for a scroll or book, and finally to its specific application to the collection of sacred scriptures—illustrates how a concrete, trade-related term evolved into an abstract, singular title for the most authoritative text in Christianity.
Analysis
The word 'bible' is a loanword from Latin and Greek, treated as a simplex unit in modern English. Its core component is the Greek 'biblion' (meaning 'book', 'scroll'), derived from 'byblos' (papyrus, book).
Examples
She reads a passage from the Bible every night before bed.
He consulted the fisherman's bible to learn about the best local techniques.
The original manuscripts of the Bible were written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.