הבנה

Hebrew

Etymology 1

Root
ב־י־ן (b-y-n)
8 terms

Action noun of the verb הֵבִין (hevín, to understand).

Pronunciation

Noun

הֲבָנָה • (havanáf (plural indefinite הֲבָנוֹת, singular construct הֲבָנַת־) [pattern: הַקְטָלָה]

  1. an understanding, comprehension
  2. an insight, a concept
  3. an informal contract, mutual agreement
  4. a reconciliation of differences
  5. sympathy
Derived terms

Etymology 2

In modern Hebrew from the Bible, where it is a hapax. Probably borrowed from Egyptian hbnj, itself of uncertain origin (possibly from Nubian).

Cognate with Ancient Greek ἔβενος (ébenos) and all its derivatives, including ebony and أبنوس.

Pronunciation

Noun

הׇבְנֶה • (hovném (plural indefinite הובנים / הׇבְנִים)

  1. (hapax legomenon) ebony, ebony tree
    • Tanach, Ezekiel 27:15, with translation of the Jewish Publication Society:
      בְּנֵי דְדָן רֹכְלַיִךְ אִיִּים רַבִּים סְחֹרַת יָדֵךְ קַרְנוֹת שֵׁן וְהׇבְנִים הֵשִׁיבוּ אֶשְׁכָּרֵךְ
      Bənei Dədan rokhəláyikh, iyyim rabbim səkhorath yadekh; qarnoth shen vəhovnim heshívu eshkarekh.
      The men of Dedan were thy traffickers; many isles were the mart of thy hand; they brought thee as tribute horns of ivory and ebony.

References

Yiddish

Etymology

From Hebrew הבנה.

Noun

הבנה • (havonef

  1. ability to understand, comprehension

References

  • Steven A. Jacobson (1998) A Guide to the More Common Hebraic Words in Yiddish, 5th edition, Fairbanks, AK: National Yiddish Book Center, →ISBN, page 52