manna

[ man-uh ]

noun

1. (in the Bible) the food miraculously supplied to the ancient Israelites in the wilderness.
2. any sudden or unexpected help, advantage, or aid to success.
3. divine or spiritual food.
4. the exudation of the ash Fraxinus ornus and related plants: source of mannitol.

manna

/ ˈmænə /

noun

1. Old Testament the miraculous food which sustained the Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 16:14–36)
2. any spiritual or divine nourishment
3. a windfall; an unexpected gift (esp in the phrase manna from heaven )
4. a sweet substance obtained from various plants, esp from an ash tree, Fraxinus ornus ( manna or flowering ash ) of S Europe, used as a mild laxative

Word History and Origins

Origin of manna¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English, from Late Latin, from Greek mánna, from Hebrew mān, possibly meaning “gift, favor”

Word History and Origins

Origin of manna¹

Old English via Late Latin from Greek, from Hebrew mān

Example Sentences

Reduced gas prices are manna for common Ukrainians, who once paid more for Russian gas than did Western Europeans.

From The Daily Beast

Unsurprisingly, the junior senator from Texas is manna to talk-radio warriors.

From The Daily Beast

Instead, the bombs America will drop will be manna for ISIS.

From The Daily Beast

For Romney, a three-way tie for first place in Iowa is manna from heaven.

From The Daily Beast

The ark of the covenant was a wooden chest, and its contents (a pot, some manna, and Aaron's rod) were materialities.

From Project Gutenberg

No raw fowls visit my bedside here; food comes as I wish it to come when I am painting, like manna from heaven.

From Project Gutenberg

The strong have fed and grown fat upon a larger and ever larger share of the manna.

From Project Gutenberg

When Moses was the prophet of Israel, they were fed with manna from heaven.

From Project Gutenberg

When the Israelites had crossed Jordan and eaten of the old corn of the land, the manna ceased.

From Project Gutenberg