Jerusalem

[ ji-roo-suh-luhm, -zuh- ]

noun

1. a city in Israel: an ancient holy city and a center of pilgrimage for Jews, Christians, and Muslims; divided between Israel and Jordan 1948–67; Jordanian sector annexed by Israel 1967; Israel's capital since 1950 (but not recognized as such by the international community).

Jerusalem

/ dʒəˈruːsələm /

noun

1. the de facto capital of Israel (recognition of this has been withheld by the United Nations), situated in the Judaean hills: became capital of the Hebrew kingdom after its capture by David around 1000 bc ; destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in 586 bc ; taken by the Romans in 63 bc ; devastated in 70 ad and 135 ad during the Jewish rebellions against Rome; fell to the Arabs in 637 and to the Seljuk Turks in 1071; ruled by Crusaders from 1099 to 1187 and by the Egyptians and Turks until conquered by the British (1917); centre of the British mandate of Palestine from 1920 to 1948, when the Arabs took the old city and the Jews held the new city; unified after the Six Day War (1967) under the Israelis; the holy city of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Pop: 693 200 (2003 est)
2. 1. Christianity Heaven
   2. any ideal city

Jerusalem

¹

1. Capital of Israel and largest city in the country, located on a ridge west of the Dead Sea and the Jordan River (see also Jordan River ). ( See also under “The Bible.” )

Jerusalem

²

1. A holy city for Jews (see also Jews ), Christians (see also Christian ), and Muslims ; the capital of the ancient kingdom of Judah and of the modern state of Israel . The name means “city of peace.” Jerusalem is often called Zion; Mount Zion is the hill on which the fortress of the city was built.

Notes

The city is famous for its many sacred sights and shrines, including the Western Wall , the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and the Dome of the Rock.

The site of the city has been occupied since the Bronze Age .

Known as the “Holy City,” it is sacred to Jews (see also Jews ), Christians (see also Christian ), and Muslims .

Conquest of Jerusalem was the goal of the early Crusades during the Middle Ages .

It was the capital of the ancient Hebrew kingdom under the kings David and Solomon .

After the creation of the state of Israel in 1948, Jerusalem was divided between Israel and Jordan . Following the Arab-Israeli conflict of 1967, Israel annexed the remainder of the city.

Other Words From

• Je·rusa·lem·ite adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Jerusalem¹

First recorded in 1580–1600; from Latin Hierosolyma, from Greek Hierosólyma, from Hebrew Yĕrūshalayim “possession of peace” (traditional interpretation). The H- in the Greek form is not found in the Hebrew; the H- is due to the influence of the Greek adjective hierós “holy, sacred, supernatural.” The alternative Latin form Hierūsalem, from Greek Hierousalḗm, comes from Hebrew Yĕrūshalēm, which most likely represents the pronunciation of Yĕrūshalayim. The spelling Jerusalem is due to loss of the initial aspirate H-, in the spelling of the Latin Hierusalem, which becomes Ierusalem; the former short vowel i then becomes pronounced as the semivowel y in accordance with ordinary Latin usage

Example Sentences

He got the tattoo, he said, after he saw it on a church while walking in Jerusalem.

From Los Angeles Times

France in turn was angered when two French officials were briefly detained by Israeli authorities at a holy site in East Jerusalem that is under French administration.

From BBC

Last month, the Knesset passed a bill to ban the Unrwa, the UN Palestinian refugee agency, from operating in Israel and occupied East Jerusalem, accusing the organisation of colluding with Hamas.

From BBC

On the one hand he pleased Israel and upset the Arab world by recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital as well as Israel’s annexation of the occupied Golan Heights.

From BBC

Either way, it seems likely that the current US administration will have less influence over the government in Jerusalem.

From BBC