Word
daniel
Phoneticsdaniel
/ˈdænjəɫ/
Definitions
01given name
A1 · Beginner Countable noun
n. a common first name for a man.
n. a common male given name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'God is my judge'.
“My friend Daniel is coming over for dinner tonight.”
“Daniel was the most popular name for newborn boys in several European countries during the late twentieth century.”
02biblical figure/book
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Religion
n. a book in the Bible or the prophet the book is about.
n. a book of the Old Testament and the Hebrew Tanakh, or the prophet whose life and visions it describes.
“The story of Daniel in the lions' den is very famous.”
“The Book of Daniel contains both historical narrative and apocalyptic visions that have influenced Western literature for centuries.”
03a wise judge
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Literary
n. a person who is very wise and fair when making a judgment.
n. an allusion to the biblical Daniel, referring to a person who shows great wisdom or insight in judgment.
“The young lawyer proved to be a second Daniel in the courtroom.”
“The judge's ruling was so insightful that the local press described him as a Daniel come to judgment.”
Usage
Often used in the phrase 'a Daniel come to judgment', famously quoted from Shakespeare.
Etymology
From Middle English Daniel, Daniell, from Ancient Greek Δᾱνῑήλ (Dānīḗl), from Hebrew דָּנִיֵּאל (daniyél, literally “God is my judge”), name borne from the prophet whose story is told in the Book of Daniel.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A1 · Beginner
- Updated
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