ENGLISH
REFERENCE

thomas

n. countable
A1 Beginner US //ˈtɑməs// thomas Vulgar

n. a common male name in English-speaking countries. It is often shortened to Tom or Tommy.

n. a masculine given name of Aramaic origin, meaning 'twin'. Widely used across Christian cultures due to the biblical apostle of the same name.


SIMPLE

My friend Thomas lives in London.

CONTEXTUAL

Thomas was promoted to senior manager after working for the firm for five years.

COMPLEX

The historical records indicate that Thomas was among the most popular names for boys in the nineteenth century, appearing frequently in both urban and rural census data.

Origin

Inherited from Middle English Thomas, from Latin Thōmās m (as in the Vulgate), from Ancient Greek Θωμᾶς m (Thōmâs), the Biblical Greek transcription of Aramaic תאומא or תאמא (“twin”), the nickname of one of the Twelve Apostles. In the gospel of John (11:16, 20:24), the Aramaic nickname is also translated into Greek, as δίδυμος m (dídumos). Used as a given name since the Middle Ages, e.g. Thomas the Presbyter (7th century), Thomas the Slav (8th century), Thomas of Bayeux (died 1100). (infidel or doubter): In reference to the doubting Apostle.

Usage

Proper noun; almost always capitalized.

Idioms1 entry

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