adj · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ɹəˈbɪnəkəl/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:R AH0 B IH1 N IH0 K AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Of or relating to rabbis, their writings, or their work.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
1581, Robert Parsons, A Brief Censure vppon Two Bookes Written in Answere to M. Edmonde Campions Offer of Disputation, Doway: John Lyon, “Towching the Societie,” section heading, Three kyndes of Rabbinical expositions of the Law.
1766, Elizabeth Griffith, The Double Mistake, London: J. Almon et al., Act I, Scene 3, Her father was a very learned divine, and who can tell but she may understand the rabbinical text?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: rabbinic
Antonyms: none provided
2
adjective
Meaning 2
of or relating to rabbis or their teachings
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
rabbinical school
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: rabbinic
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English rabbi English -n- Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icuslbor. Old French -iquebor. Middle English -ic Proto-Indo-European *h2el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al Middle English -ical English -ical English rabbinical From rabbi + -n- + -ical.
Across languages
Translations
10 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Catalan:
rabínic
— Referring to rabbis, their writings, or their work
Esperanto:
rabena
— Referring to rabbis, their writings, or their work
French:
rabbinique
— Referring to rabbis, their writings, or their work
German:
rabbinisch
— Referring to rabbis, their writings, or their work
Hebrew:
רבני
(rabānī)
— Referring to rabbis, their writings, or their work
Polish:
rabiniczny
— Referring to rabbis, their writings, or their work
Portuguese:
rabínico
— Referring to rabbis, their writings, or their work
Spanish:
rabínico
— Referring to rabbis, their writings, or their work
Swedish:
rabbinsk
— Referring to rabbis, their writings, or their work
Yiddish:
רבניש
(rabonish)
— Referring to rabbis, their writings, or their work
