Word
eden
Phoneticseden
/ˈidən/
Definitions
01the biblical garden
n. the beautiful garden where, in the Bible, the first humans lived.
n. the garden in the biblical account of Genesis that served as the original home of Adam and Eve.
“In the story, Adam and Eve were forced to leave Eden after they ate the fruit.”
“Theological interpretations of Eden often focus on the transition from divine harmony to the complexities of human morality and suffering.”
Usage
Usually capitalized as a proper noun.
Synonyms
02a paradise
n. a place or situation that is perfect, beautiful, and peaceful.
n. a place or state of supreme happiness, beauty, or delight; a secular paradise.
“The remote tropical island was a real eden for the tired travellers.”
“The architect aimed to create an urban eden, integrating lush vertical gardens into the concrete landscape of the city centre.”
Literary
Usage
Can be used as a common noun (lowercase) or a proper noun (capitalized).
03state of innocence
n. a state of being innocent and happy, like a child before they grow up.
n. a state of pristine innocence or bliss, often used metaphorically to describe a period before corruption or loss.
“The poet wrote about the lost eden of his childhood summers.”
“The novel explores the protagonist's journey from the eden of his youth into the harsh realities of political life.”
Literary
Teaching tip
This sense is highly literary; learners should use it when discussing poetry or philosophical themes of lost innocence.
Antonyms
Etymology
From Biblical Hebrew עֵדֶן (ʿḗḏen), perhaps from Sumerian 𒂔 (edin, “steppe, garden”).
* The river in Cumbria is from the Roman name, British Latin Ituna. The rivers in Scotland are also related to the root of this name. The river in Kent is back-formed from Edenbridge, from Old English Eadhelmesbrycg (“Eadhelm's bridge”) (attested as Eadelmesbregge c. 1100).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.