Jerusalemn.
/dʒᵻˈruːs(ə)ləm/, U.S. /dʒəˈrus(ə)ləm/ 1. figurative. An ideal or heavenly city; spec. = city n. 4a; frequently the new Jerusalem.
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society > faith > aspects of faith > Bible, Scripture > Biblical places > [noun]
olivetOE
Calvaryc1000
the Holy (Saint) Sepulchre (occasionally the Sepulchre)c1200
Holy Citya1382
Jerusalem1382
holy grave1481
Holy Sepulture1525
Armageddona1638
Via Crucis1844
Via Dolorosa1878
1382 J. Wyclif Rev. xxi. 2 The holy citee Jerusalem, newe, comynge doun fro heuen of God.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Rev. xxi. 2 I Ihon sawe that holy cite newe Ierusalem come downe from God out of heauen.
1601 Song of Mary Mother of Christ 38 Ierusalem my happy home, when shall I come to thee.
1804–8 W. Blake Milton Pref., in Compl. Writings (1972) 481 I will not cease from Mental Fight, Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand Till we have built Jerusalem In England's green & pleasant Land.
1933 J. Buchan Prince of Captivity i. ii. 70 For the first time Adam told another of..his childhood home and its lonely peace... ‘Ah,’ he said, ‘it is as I guessed. We have each our Jerusalem.’
1959 A. Huxley Let. 10 Jan. (1969) 863 The nature of these visions is often paradisal and the descriptions of them remind one irresistibly of the description of the New Jerusalem in the Apocalypse.
1968 Listener 21 Mar. 377/3 Both men indeed looked forward to the same new Jerusalem—a society in which the state would wither away, bureaucracy would be no more.
2. Used as an exclamation, usually of surprise.
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the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > exclamation of surprise [interjection]
whatOE
well, wellOE
avoyc1300
ouc1300
ay1340
lorda1393
ahaa1400
hillaa1400
whannowc1450
wow1513
why?1520
heydaya1529
ah1538
ah me!a1547
fore me!a1547
o me!a1547
what the (also a) goodyear1570
precious coals1576
Lord have mercy (on us)1581
good heavens1588
whau1589
coads1590
ay me!1591
my stars!a1593
Gods me1595
law1598
Godso1600
to go out1600
coads-nigs1608
for mercy!a1616
good stars!1615
mercy on us (also me, etc.)!a1616
gramercy1617
goodness1623
what next?1662
mon Dieu1665
heugh1668
criminy1681
Lawd1696
the dickens1697
(God, etc.) bless my heart1704
alackaday1705
(for) mercy's sake!1707
my1707
deuce1710
gracious1712
goodly and gracious1713
my word1722
my stars and garters!1758
lawka1774
losha1779
Lord bless me (also you, us, etc.)1784
great guns!1795
mein Gott1795
Dear me!1805
fancy1813
well, I'm sure!1815
massy1817
Dear, dear!1818
to get off1818
laws1824
Mamma mia1824
by crikey1826
wisha1826
alleleu1829
crackey1830
Madonna mia1830
indeed1834
to go on1835
snakes1839
Jerusalem1840
sapristi1840
oh my days1841
tear and ages1841
what (why, etc.) in time?1844
sakes alive!1846
gee willikers1847
to get away1847
well, to be sure!1847
gee1851
Great Scott1852
holy mackerel!1855
doggone1857
lawsy1868
my wig(s)!1871
gee whiz1872
crimes1874
yoicks1881
Christmas1882
hully gee1895
'ullo1895
my hat!1899
good (also great) grief!1900
strike me pink!1902
oo-er1909
what do you know?1909
cripes1910
coo1911
zowiec1913
can you tie that?1918
hot diggety1924
yeow1924
ziggety1924
stone (or stiffen) the crows1930
hullo1931
tiens1932
whammo1932
po po po1936
how about that?1939
hallo1942
brother1945
tie that!1948
surprise1953
wowee1963
yikes1971
never1974
to sod off1976
whee1978
mercy1986
yipes1989
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > [noun] > equus asinus (ass) > domesticated ass or donkey
neddy1545
jade1600
cuddy1714
donkey1785
Jerusalem pony1806
moke1839
cardophagus1858
Jerusalem1872
donk1916
1840 Spirit of Times 8 Aug. 276/2 By Jerusalem!
1868 C. Reade & D. Boucicault Foul Play III. xvii. 199 ‘What is your name, when you are ashore?’ ‘Robert Penfold. The Reverend Robert Penfold.’ ‘The Reverend!—Jerusalem.’
1872 M. S. De Vere Americanisms 611 Jerusalem!, a favorite New England exclamation... In the West it is, as usual, improved to suit the louder taste of the people, and becomes Jewhillikin.
1898 J. D. Brayshaw Slum Silhouettes 179 Jee-roosalem! You can't stand there; the police won't allow it.
1914 G. K. Chesterton Wisdom of Father Brown i. 19 ‘Jerusalem!’ ejaculated Brown suddenly.
1968 J. F. Straker SIN & Johnny Inch i. 19 He consulted his watch. ‘Jerusalem! It's nearly three hours.’
1974 P. Lovesey Invitation to Dynamite Party ii. 27 ‘He kept..buying me whisky.’ Jerusalem! Cribb blinked. ‘You were on spirits that night, then?’
Compounds
Hence, general attributive or elliptical in the following, among other uses.Also in numerous plant-names and other combinations, as Jerusalem artichoke, Jerusalem cross n., etc.: see these words.
Jerusalem cherry n. = winter cherry n. 1b.
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the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Solanaceae (nightshade and allies) > [noun] > physalis
alkekengi1440
winter cherry1548
red nightshade1578
winterberry1608
pop vine1750
Physalis1754
cow pops1848
Jerusalem cherry1884
1884 W. Miller Dict. Eng. Names Plants 251 Solanum Pseudo-Capsicum. Jerusalem Cherry, Winter-Cherry Capsicum.
1887 G. Nicholson Illustr. Dict. Gardening III. 455/1 S[olanum] Pseudo-capsicum (false Capsicum). Jerusalem Cherry. A few handsome hybrids have been raised from this species.
1902 Cycl. Amer. Hort.: R–Z 1679/1 [Solanum] Pseudo-Capsicum, Linn. Jerusalem Cherry... An old-fashioned plant..grown for its showy berry-like fruits, which persist a long time.
1969 Northwest (Sunday Oregonian Mag.) 14 Dec. 19/3 Christmas potted plants are just as important a part of the scene. Poinsettias, cyclamens, chrysanthemums, Christmas peppers, Jerusalem cherries, foliage plants, dish gardens, and others are among them.
Jerusalem cross n.
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1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 159 They bare five crosses gules, in forme of that which is at this day called the Ierusalem crosse.
1697 W. Dampier New Voy. around World xviii. 514 The Jerusalem Cross is made in Mens Arms, by pricking the skin, and rubbing in a pigment.
1877 W. Jones Finger-ring Lore 265 Two signet~rings, also bearing as a device the ‘Jerusalem Cross’.
Jerusalem jump n. (see quot.).
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1887 A. Lang Myth, Ritual & Relig. II. 240 The Voodoo-dance is consecrated as the ‘Jerusalem Jump’.
Jerusalem letters n. letters or symbols tattooed on the arm or body, such as pilgrims or visitors to Jerusalem sometimes bore, in testimony or memory of their visit.
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society > faith > artefacts > pilgrim's garb > items of attire > [noun] > token > tattoo
Jerusalem letters1766
1766 H. Brooke Fool of Quality II. xi. 188 If heaven should ever bless me with more children,..I have determined to fix some indelible mark upon them, such as that of the Jerusalem-Letters.
Jerusalem mark n.
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1716 London Gaz. No. 5400/4 He is..well set, with a Scar on his right Cheek, and the Jerusalem Mark on his Arm.
Jerusalem pony n. (also ellipt. Jerusalem) a donkey (in reference to Christ's riding into Jerusalem on an ass).
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the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > [noun] > equus asinus (ass) > domesticated ass or donkey
neddy1545
jade1600
cuddy1714
donkey1785
Jerusalem pony1806
moke1839
cardophagus1858
Jerusalem1872
donk1916
1806 in H. Martin Brighton (1871) 156 The Jerusalem ponies have been in high requisition all the morning.
1840 Peter Parley's Ann. 218 Mrs. Button..at last thought of trying her Jerusalem poney in the streets.
1878 Daily News 16 Sept. 3/1 Jerusalems, alias living donkeys, are plentiful in the market.
Categories »
Jerusalem potato n. dialect the same as Jerusalem artichoke (see artichoke n. 2).
Draft additions January 2011
Jerusalem Syndrome n. (also with lower-case initial in the second element) a psychological phenomenon whereby a visitor to Jerusalem suffers (usually temporary) delusions or psychosis of a religious nature, apparently afflicting individuals both with and without a history of mental illness.
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1987 European Stars & Stripes (Darmstadt, Germany) 18 Mar. 15 The unexplained nervous breakdown is dubbed ‘Jerusalem Syndrome’ because it is known to strike tourists only in Jerusalem.
1993 H. Jacobson Roots Schmoots xvii. 371 He meant to liberate the Mount and become King of the Jews... A case of Jerusalem Syndrome if ever there was one.
1999 Independent 27 Dec. i. 1/1 Psychiatrists from the Kfer Shaul mental health centre in the city reported a 50 per cent surge in admissions last month of pilgrims struck by the Jerusalem syndrome after being drawn by the dawn of the new millennium.
2009 Daily Tel. 22 Sept. 14/8 Homer, the patriarch of the Simpson family, contracts Jerusalem Syndrome and becomes convinced he is the Messiah.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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