exodus

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A sudden departure of a large number of people.

   There were no less than three exodi from Egypt. The first was the one just named, viz: the expulsion of two hundred and forty thousand Cuthites by Halisphragmuthosis; this occurred about two hundred years before the entrance of the Israelitish shepherds into Egypt. The second exodus was that of this once holy people, under the guidance of the Almighty, through his servant Moses, the account of which we have in profane history, substantiated in the minutest particulars by the sacred writings given us through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, which protected and preserved the race. But the third is not so generally known.

2. 2
   noun

   a journey by a large group to escape from a hostile environment

3. 3
   name

   The departure of the Hebrew slaves from Egypt under the leadership of Moses.

4. 4
   name

   The second of the Books of Moses in the Old Testament of the Bible, the second book in the Torah describing the Exodus.

5. 5
   verb

   To depart from a place in a large group.

Etymology

From Latin exodus, from Ancient Greek ἔξοδος (éxodos, “expedition, procession, departure”). Doublet of exodos. From late Old English only as a proper noun, Exodus, the biblical book; use as a common noun is from the early 17th century.