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

When I got home, I flung myself onto the couch, basking in the AC’s icy coolness as if it were manna from heaven.

From Los Angeles Times

Also prepared for the worst is Hassan Manna.

From BBC

Politicians, for whom this issue is manna from heaven, have gone so far as to proclaim that it is our moral duty to kill those who kill.

From Slate

Manna Lal Rawat, the BJP's Udaipur MP, told BBC Hindi that the demolition was not connected to the stabbing.

From BBC

“The California Legislature passing a reparations bill would be just like manna from heaven for the Republican Party and for Donald Trump to demonstrate and make the case that this is what the future would look like under a president from California that cut her teeth in a state and has those overarching ideals,” Nteta said.

From Los Angeles Times