benjamin

¹

[ ben-juh-muhn ]

noun

1. benzoin ¹( def 2 ).

Benjamin

²

[ ben-juh-muhn ]

noun

1. 1. (in the Bible) the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, and the brother of Joseph.
   2. one of the 12 tribes of ancient Israel, traditionally descended from him.
2. Asher, 1773–1845, U.S. architect and writer.
3. Judah Philip, 1811–84, Confederate statesman.
4. a first name: from a Hebrew word meaning “son of the right.”

Benjamin

¹

/ ˈbɛndʒəmɪn /

noun

1. Old Testament
   1. the youngest and best-loved son of Jacob and Rachel (Genesis 35:16–18; 42:4)
   2. the tribe descended from this patriarch
   3. the territory of this tribe, northwest of the Dead Sea
2. archaic.
   a youngest and favourite son

Benjamin

²

/ ˈbɛndʒəmɪn /

noun

1. BenjaminArthur18931960MAustralianMUSIC: composer Arthur . 1893–1960, Australian composer. In addition to Jamaican Rumba (1938), he wrote five operas and a harmonica concerto (1953)
2. ˈbɛnɪamin BenjaminWalter18921940MGermanWRITING: criticSOCIAL SCIENCE: cultural theorist Walter (ˈvaltər). 1892–1940, German critic and cultural theorist

benjamin

³

/ ˈbɛndʒəmɪn /

noun

1. another name for benzoin
2. benjamin bush
   another name for spicebush

Word History and Origins

Origin of benjamin¹

1570–80; alteration (by association with the proper name) of benjoin, early form of benzoin ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of benjamin¹

C16: variant of benzoin ; influenced in form by the name Benjamin

Example Sentences

Omar drew widespread criticism recently when she posted, on Twitter, that the U.S. government’s support of Israel was “all about the benjamins.”

From Salon

More than 200 years ago benjamin franklin coined the now famous dictum that equated passing minutes and hours with shillings and pounds.

From Scientific American

No question that a movie about building community in the workplace would lack compelling visuals such as bikinied babes papered with benjamins.

From Forbes

So it’s no wonder that some physical artists in a disembodied world are — like Warhol in the plastic age or Rihanna in “Pour It Up” — all about the benjamins.

From New York Times

My son benjamin and I appeared twice on The Martha Stewart Show to talk about the family company, Divvies.

From Inc