Gaon

[ gah-ohn; Sephardic Hebrew gah-awn; Ashkenazic Hebrew gah-ohn, goin ]

noun

, plural Ge·o·nim [ge-aw-, neem, gey-, oh, -nim], English Ga·ons.

1. a title of honor for the directors of the Jewish academies at Sura and Pumbedita in Babylonia, used from the end of the 6th century a.d. to about the beginning of the 11th century.
2. an eminent Jewish scholar noted for wisdom and knowledge of the Talmud:

   the Gaon of Vilna.

Other Words From

• Ga·on·ic [gey-, on, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Gaon¹

1770–80; < Hebrew: literally, majesty

Example Sentences

The homeowner is Raymond Gaon, who has held the two-bedroom bungalow since the mid-1990s, according to public records.

From Los Angeles Times

The Times could not reach Gaon for comment.

From Los Angeles Times

Gaon’s front yard and its debris were long shrouded in a phalanx of tall plants, bushes and large trees.

From Los Angeles Times

Department of Building and Safety ordered Gaon to remove garbage and debris, clear his driveway, remove overgrown vegetation and stop using his yard as open storage.

From Los Angeles Times

Jonathan Fromen, a developer and contractor who built the home next door and is building another home on the same street, said he got to know Gaon and his sister over the years.

From Los Angeles Times