manna

/'mænə/

Thân thiện

The Israelites gathered manna from the ground in the desert.

Definition

Noun: 1. Spiritual or miraculous sustenance: In the Bible, the food miraculously provided by God for the Israelites during their journey in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt. By extension, any unexpected or much-needed benefit that arrives as if by divine intervention. 2. A natural sweet substance: A sweet, edible gum or resin that exudes from certain trees and plants, such as the ash or tamarisk, often used medicinally or as a mild laxative.

Examples

• Biblical/Miraculous Context:
  • According to the Book of Exodus, manna appeared on the ground each morning to feed the Israelites.
  • The sudden grant funding was like manna from heaven for the struggling research team.
• Natural Substance Context:
  • The manna collected from the flowering ash tree is used in traditional medicine.
  • This particular species of tree is known for producing a sweet, edible manna.

Advanced Usage

• "Manna from heaven": An idiom meaning an unexpected and very welcome piece of good fortune or assistance, especially when it arrives just in time to solve a problem.
  • The anonymous donation was manna from heaven for the charity, allowing it to continue its work.

Variants and Related Words

• Manna ash (): A species of ash tree native to southern Europe and Asia Minor, known as a primary source of the sweet substance called manna.

Synonyms

• Boon: A thing that is helpful or beneficial.
• Godsend: A very helpful or valuable event, person, or thing.
• Windfall: An unexpected gain or piece of good fortune.

Idioms

• Manna from heaven: As described in Advanced Usage.

Học thuật

Noun

1. (Old Testament) food that God gave the Israelites during the Exodus
2. hardened sugary exudation of various trees

Từ đồng nghĩa

• miraculous food
• manna from heaven