Hebraica

See also: hebraica

English

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Late Latin hebraica, neuter plural of hebraicus (“Hebrew”), from Ancient Greek Ἑβραῖος (Hebraîos), from Hebrew עִבְרִי (ʿiḇrī, “Hebrew”) (likely through Aramaic עִבְרַי (ʿiḇray, “Hebrew”)), traditionally from עֵבֶר ('éver, “Eber”), the ancestor of the Israelites. By surface analysis, Hebra- +‎ -ica.

Noun

Hebraica (uncountable)

1. Texts or artifacts containing Hebrew writing.
   • 2012 November 2, Debra Rubin, quoting Jonathan Sarna, “Library of Congress exhibit celebrates Jewish history, artifacts”, in The Washington Post‎^[1], Washington, D.C.: The Washington Post Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 28 September 2023:

     "By creating an Hebraica/Judaica collection, the Library of Congress was granting recognition to America's Jewish community," which at the time was growing rapidly, "and likewise highlighting the importance of Jewish civilization in the shaping of our world," said Jonathan Sarna of Brandeis University, the dean of American Jewish historians.

Further reading

• “Hebraica”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.