Ecclesiastes

noun

Ec·​cle·​si·​as·​tes i-ˌklē-zē-ˈa-(ˌ)stēz 

e-ˌklē-

: a book of wisdom literature in canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture see Bible Table

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin Ecclēsiastēs, borrowed from Greek Ekklēsiastḗs, from ekklēsiastḗs "participant in an assembly of citizens" (adapted by the Septuagint translators as a rendering of Hebrew qōheleth, named in the title verse as the author of the Biblical book), from ekklēsiázein "to hold a public assembly, be a member of the assembly" (verbal derivative of ekklēsía "assembly of citizens") + -tēs, agent suffix — more at ecclesial

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

Ecclesiastes

noun

Ec·​cle·​si·​as·​tes ik-ˌlē-zē-ˈas-(ˌ)tēz 

e-ˌklē-

: a book of wisdom literature in canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture see bible