Word
nicholas
Phoneticsnicholas
/ˈnɪkəɫəs/
Definitions
01male given name
n. a common name for a boy or man.
n. A masculine given name derived from the Greek 'Nikolaos', meaning 'victory of the people'.
“My friend Nicholas prefers to be called Nick by his family.”
“The historical records indicate that Nicholas was a remarkably popular name throughout the medieval period across much of Europe.”
Synonyms
02Saint Nicholas
n. a famous Christian saint known for his kindness and for giving gifts.
n. A fourth-century Christian saint and Bishop of Myra, traditionally regarded as the patron saint of children and the inspiration for Santa Claus.
“Many children leave their shoes out for Saint Nicholas to fill with treats.”
“The legend of Saint Nicholas evolved over centuries, eventually merging with other folklore to create the modern figure of Father Christmas.”
Teaching tip
Learners may encounter various regional versions of this name, such as Nicolas (French/Spanish) or Nikolai (Russian).
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English Nicholas, from Old French Nicholas, from Latin Nīcolāus, from Ancient Greek Νικόλαος (Nikólaos), from νίκη (níkē, “victory”) + λαός (laós, “people”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.