ENGLISH
REFERENCE

manna

n. uncountable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈmænə// UK //mˈænɐ// man·na

n. a special food that fell from the sky to help people survive. In a modern way, it can also mean something that is very helpful or arrives just when you need it.

n. a miraculous food substance that fell from the sky to sustain the Israelites during their forty-year journey in the wilderness. In a secular context, it refers to any unexpected or highly beneficial resource or event.


SIMPLE

The rain was a manna for the thirsty travelers.

CONTEXTUAL

After weeks of searching for a job, the sudden offer felt like a manna from heaven.

COMPLEX

The discovery of the underground aquifer was a literal manna for the arid region, transforming a barren landscape into a thriving agricultural hub within a single decade.

Origin

From Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin manna, from Ancient Greek μάννα (mánna), from Hebrew מן (mān, “'manna”).

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