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חמור. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
חמור, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
חמור in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
חמור you have here. The definition of the word
חמור will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
חמור, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Hebrew
Etymology 1
From Proto-Semitic *ḥimār- (“donkey”). Cognate with Arabic حِمَار (ḥimār).
Noun
חֲמוֹר • (khamór) m (plural indefinite חֲמוֹרִים, feminine counterpart אָתוֹן)
- donkey, jackass
Tanach, Exodus 4:20, with Young's Literal Translation:וַיִּקַּח מֹשֶׁה אֶת־אִשְׁתּוֹ וְאֶת־בָּנָיו וַיַּרְכִּבֵם עַל־הַחֲמֹר- yayikách moshé et-ishtó v'et-banáv vayarkivém al-hachamór
- and Moses taketh his wife, and his sons, and causeth them to ride on the ass
a. 217 C.E., Mishnah, Bechorot 1:2:פָּרָה שֶׁיָּלְדָה כְּמִין חֲמוֹר, וַחֲמוֹר שֶׁיָּלְדָה כְּמִין סוּס, פָּטוּר מִן הַבְּכוֹרָה- Paráh she-yaldáh k-min ḥamór, va-ḥamór she-yaldah k-min sus, patur min ha-b'khorah.
- A cow that births what looks like a donkey, or a donkey that births what looks like a horse, these are exempt from the firstborn offering.
- jackass (foolish person)
- sawhorse
Declension
Coordinate terms
- אתון ('atón, “jenny, female donkey”)
Derived terms
Etymology 2
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Adjective
חָמוּר • (khamur) (feminine חֲמוּרָה, masculine plural חֲמוּרִים, feminine plural חֲמוּרוֹת)
- severe, grave, serious, critical, drastic.
References
- “חמור” in the Hebrew Terms Database of the Academy of Hebrew Language
Further reading
Yiddish
Etymology
From Hebrew חמור.
Noun
חמור • (khamer) m, plural חמורים (khamoyrim)
- (derogatory) donkey, jackass, fool