bible

Etymology

From Middle English bible, from Middle Latin biblia (“book”) (misinterpreted as a feminine from earlier Latin neuter plural biblia (“books”)), from Ancient Greek βιβλία (biblía, “books”), plural of βιβλίον (biblíon, “small book”), originally a diminutive of βίβλος (bíblos, “book”), from βύβλος (búblos, “papyrus”) (from the ancient Phoenician city of Byblos which exported this writing material).

Old English used biblioþēce (from βιβλιοθήκη) and ġewritu (> English writs) for "the Scriptures".

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ˈbaɪbəl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɪbəl

Noun

bible (plural bibles)

1. A comprehensive manual that describes something. (e.g., handyman’s bible).
   • 1995, Gary Wolf, "The Curse of Xanadu", Wired Magazine

     Computer Lib was written as a popular primer, but its most profound effect was on computer programmers, who needed little persuasion about the value of computers. Its tone – energetic, optimistic, inexhaustible, confused – matched theirs exactly. Having set out to appeal to the general public, Nelson managed to publish an insider's bible and highly intimate guide to hacker culture.

2. (nautical) A holystone.
3. (at certain US universities) A compilation of problems and solutions from previous years of a given course, used by some students to cheat on tests or assignments.
   • 1965, Matt Fichtenbaum and Dan Murphy, “The Institute Screw” in The Broadside of Boston, vol. III, No. 22:

     My friend’s a genius, he will give me problems one through nine.
     The bible of a sophomore will have the needed lines.

Proper noun

bible f

1. Bible

Further reading

• bible in Příruční slovník jazyka českého, 1935–1957
• bible in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého, 1960–1971, 1989

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bibl/

Noun

bible f (plural bibles)

1. bible (comprehensive text)

Further reading

• “bible” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).