mary
- 01 A1 Beginner
a common English name for a woman.
a female given name of Aramaic and Hebrew origin, historically one of the most common names in the English-speaking world.
Simple“My grandmother's name was Mary, and she lived in a small village.”
In context“The registrar noted that Mary remained a consistently popular choice for newborn girls throughout the early twentieth century.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
the mother of Jesus, often called the Virgin Mary.
the mother of Jesus Christ, venerated in Christianity and Islam as a central religious figure.
Simple“Many churches are named after Mary to honour her role in the Bible.”
In context“The cathedral features a series of stained-glass windows depicting scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary.”
Synonymsvirgin marymadonna - 03 C1 Advanced
a slang name sometimes used to address or talk about a gay man.
a term of address or reference for a male homosexual, often used within the LGBTQ+ community.
Simple“Listen, Mary, you need to stop worrying about what they think.”
In context“The use of 'Mary' as a campy term of address was a prominent feature of mid-century underground queer subcultures.”
Teacher's tipThis term can be used affectionately within the gay community but may be seen as offensive if used by outsiders.
From Middle English Marie, from Old French Marie, from Latin Maria, from Ancient Greek Μαρία (María), Μαριάμ (Mariám), from Aramaic מַרְיָם (maryām) or Biblical Hebrew מִרְיָם (miryām), of uncertain meaning (see the Hebrew entry for more). Doublet of Miriam, Marie, Maria, and Mariah.
From Turkmen Mary.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.