יענטע

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Yiddish

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Etymology

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From the name of the fictional character "Yente Telebende", created by humorist Jacob Adler. The name יענטע (yente) is a back-formation from the nickname יענטעלע (yentele), originally a nickname for יענטל (yentl), which is probably derived from a Romance source akin to Italian gentile.[1]

Noun

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יענטע (yentef, plural יענטעס (yentes)

  1. A female busybody or gossipmonger, yenta
  2. A matchmaker.

Descendants

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  • English: yenta

References

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