Joseph

[ joh-zuhf, -suhf ]

noun

1. (in the Bible) Jacob's eleventh son, the first of Jacob and his second wife, Rachel: sold into slavery by his brothers.
2. (in the Bible) the husband of Mary who was the mother of Jesus.
3. Hinmaton-yalaktit, c1840–1904, leader of the Nez Perce: led 1,000-mile (1,600-km) retreat from U.S. forces in an attempt to reach Canada in 1877.
4. joseph, a long coat buttoning in the front, worn especially by women as part of their riding habit in colonial America.
5. a male given name: from a Hebrew word meaning “increaser.”

joseph

¹

/ ˈdʒəʊzɪf /

noun

1. a woman's floor-length riding coat with a small cape, worn esp in the 18th century

Joseph

²

/ ˈdʒəʊzɪf /

noun

1. Old Testament
   1. the eleventh son of Jacob and one of the 12 patriarchs of Israel (Genesis 30:2–24)
   2. either or both of two tribes descended from his sons Ephraim and Manasseh
2. Saint Joseph
   New Testament the husband of Mary the mother of Jesus (Matthew 1:16–25). Feast day: Mar 19

Word History and Origins

Origin of Joseph¹

perhaps from the story of Joseph and his long coat (Genesis 37:3)

Example Sentences

The mayor’s statement listed many siblings, nieces, nephews and friends who mourn her sister, along with their parents, Joseph and Joan Bowser.

From Washington Post

Yet when Joseph interviewed them again three years later, 43% reported that their lives and attitudes had changed for the better.

From Time

Every morning before dawn, a network of vans made the rounds of the city’s apartment complexes, shuttling workers like Joseph to the region’s meatpacking plants.

From ProPublica

“Of course the impact and strategic opportunities with smaller sponsorships are expected to be limited, but it thoughtfully provides an opportunity for these smaller sponsors to participate and fulfill on some of their key goals,” said Joseph.

From Digiday

Frontiero was required by federal law to prove that her husband, Joseph, was dependent on her for at least half his economic support in order to qualify for housing, medical and dental benefits.

From No Straight News

“I heard them say, ‘He was shot twice,’” the father, Joseph Dossi, remembers.

From The Daily Beast

Bergoglio ran second to Joseph Ratzinger, who became Benedict XVI.

From The Daily Beast

In an act of corporal punishment that we at the Daily Beast do not condone, Joseph grabbed Him by the ear and “pulled hard.”

From The Daily Beast

Joseph LaRocca says some companies are upping the ante in terms of fending off return fraudsters.

From The Daily Beast

Cops launched a flash grenade through the window and officer Joseph Weekley fired, fatally striking Stanley-Jones.

From The Daily Beast

Joseph, with his liberal ideas, had attempted to free the people from clerical thraldom.

From Project Gutenberg

Jacob robbed his brother of his birthright by trading on his hunger; Joseph robbed a whole people in the same way.

From Project Gutenberg

Joseph Towers died; a printer, bookseller, and afterwards a preacher with the title of LL.

From Project Gutenberg

Joseph Blanco White, an English preacher and controversial writer, died, aged 67.

From Project Gutenberg

Joseph White, an eminent English divine, and oriental scholar, died.

From Project Gutenberg