First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
Maccabees
noun plural Mac·ca·bees \ˈma-kə-(ˌ)bēz\
Definition of MACCABEES
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singular in construction : either of two narrative and historical books included in the Roman Catholic canon of the Old Testament and in the Protestant Apocrypha — see bible table
— Mac·ca·be·an \ˌma-kə-ˈbē-ən\ adjective
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Origin of MACCABEES
Greek Makkabaioi, from plural of Makkabaios, surname of Judas Maccabaeus 2d century b.c. Jewish patriot
Maccabees
biographical name Mac·ca·bees \ˈma-kə-ˌbēz\
Definition of MACCABEES
Judas or Judah d 161 b.c. surname Mac*ca*ba*eus \ˌma-kə-ˈbē-əs\ Jewish patriot
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