Meanings
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1
noun
the sacred scriptures of Christianity, comprising the Old and New Testaments
The family kept a Bible beside the bed and read from it each evening.
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2
noun
a particular copy, edition, or translation of the Christian scriptures
Her old bible contained handwritten notes in every margin.
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3
noun
a comprehensive and highly authoritative book about a subject
The repair manual became his bible for restoring the vintage engine.
Thesaurus
Etymology
From Middle English bible and Medieval Latin biblia, reinterpreted as a singular from Greek biblia, 'books,' the plural of biblion, 'small book.' Biblion ultimately referred to papyrus associated with the Phoenician city of Byblos. The figurative sense developed from the Christian Bible's status as an authoritative text.