James

[ jeymz ]

noun

1. Also called James the Great. one of the 12 apostles of Jesus, the son of Zebedee and brother of the apostle John.
2. a person identified in the Christian scriptures as a brother of Jesus.
3. Also called James the Less. James the son of Alphaeus, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus.
4. Alice, 1848–92, U.S. diarist, sister of Henry and William James.
5. C(yril) L(ionel) R(obert), 1901–89, Trinidadian author, historian, and political activist.
6. Daniel, Jr. Chappie, 1920–78, U.S. Air Force officer: first Black general.
7. Henry, 1811–82, U.S. philosopher and author (father of Henry and William James).
8. Henry, 1843–1916, U.S. novelist and critic in England (brother of William James).
9. Jes·se (Wood·son) [jes, -ee , wood, -s, uh, n], 1847–82, U.S. outlaw and legendary figure.
10. Will, 1892–1942, U.S. author and illustrator.
11. William, 1842–1910, U.S. psychologist and pragmatist philosopher (brother of Henry James).
12. a river flowing east from the western part of Virginia to Chesapeake Bay. 340 miles (547 km) long.
13. a river flowing south from central North Dakota through South Dakota to the Missouri River. 710 miles (1,143 km) long.
14. one of the books of the New Testament. : Jas.
15. a male given name.

James

/ dʒeɪmz /

noun

1. JamesClive1939MAustralianWRITING: journalistFILMS AND TV: broadcaster Clive. born 1939, Australian journalist, critic and broadcaster. His books include the memoirs Unreliable Memoirs (1980) and North Face of Soho (2006) and the novel Brilliant Creatures (1983)
2. JamesHenry18431916MBritishUSWRITING: novelistWRITING: short-story writerWRITING: critic Henry 1843–1916, British novelist, short-story writer, and critic, born in the US Among his novels are Washington Square (1880), The Portrait of a Lady (1881), The Bostonians (1886), The Wings of the Dove (1902), The Ambassadors (1903), and The Golden Bowl (1904)
3. JamesJesse (Woodson)18471882MUSCRIME AND POLICING: outlaw Jesse ( Woodson ). 1847–82, US outlaw
4. JamesP(hyllis) D(orothy), Baroness James of Holland Park1920FBritishWRITING: novelist P ( hyllis ) D ( orothy ), Baroness James of Holland Park. born 1920, British detective novelist. Her books include Death of an Expert Witness (1977), Original Sin (1994), and Death in Holy Orders (2001)
5. JamesWilliam18421910MUSPHILOSOPHY: philosopherSCIENCE: psychologist William , brother of Henry James. 1842–1910, US philosopher and psychologist, whose theory of pragmatism is expounded in Essays in Radical Empiricism (1912). His other works include The Will to Believe (1897), The Principles of Psychology (1890), and The Varieties of Religious Experience (1902)
6. New Testament
   1. James, James the GreatMJewishRELIGION: apostleRELIGION: saint known as James the Great. one of the twelve apostles, a son of Zebedee and brother to John the apostle (Matthew 4:21). Feast day: July 25 or April 30
   2. James, James the LessMJewishRELIGION: apostleRELIGION: saint known as James the Less. one of the twelve apostles, son of Alphaeus (Matthew 10:3). Feast day: May 3 or Oct 9
   3. James, James the brother of the LordMJewishRELIGION: martyrRELIGION: saint known as James the brother of the Lord. a brother or close relative of Jesus (Mark 6:3; Galatians 1:19). Feast day: Oct 23
   4. the book ascribed to his authorship (in full The Epistle of James )

Word History and Origins

Origin of James¹

Middle English Jame(s), from Old French, from unattested Vulgar Latin Jacomus, for unattested Jacobus, alteration of Late Latin Jacōbus Jacob; compare Spanish Jaime, Italian Giacomo

Example Sentences

Rosalind Franklin, James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the structure of DNA -- that molecular blueprint for life -- over 70 years ago.

From Science Daily

Responding to the announcement, Conservative shadow secretary of defence James Cartlidge criticised it as "cuts, instead of a pathway to 2.5%".

From BBC

The musician best known for playing the guitar riff in the James Bond theme tune has died.

From BBC

When the new Border Security Command was announced, Conservative former home secretary James Cleverly suggested it was a "gimmick" and accused Labour of making up a job that already existed.

From BBC

It has emerged over the years that staff members from “The Tonight Show” consulted with a magician, James Randi, who advised them on how to prepare the props to stymie him.

From New York Times