manna

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   in the Book of Exodus, the food miraculously supplied to the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness

   The rector's sermon explained the manna in the wilderness as a sign of providence.

2. 2
   noun

   an unexpected or urgently needed benefit, especially one received as if by providence

   The unexpected grant was manna from heaven for the struggling theatre company.

3. 3
   noun

   a sweet, edible substance exuded by certain trees and other plants

   Collectors gathered the sweet manna that had hardened on the ash trees.

From Middle English manna, inherited from Old English, from Late Latin manna and Ancient Greek manna, ultimately from Biblical Hebrew man. Exodus associates the name with the Israelites' question man hu? ("What is it?"), though that explanation is traditional rather than certain. The figurative sense of an unexpected providential benefit grew from the biblical story.

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