bethel

noun

beth·​el ˈbe-thəl 

1

: a hallowed spot

2

a

: a chapel for Nonconformists

b

: a place of worship for seamen

Word History

Etymology

Hebrew bēth'ēl house of God

First Known Use

circa 1617, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

bethel

noun

beth·​el ˈbeth-əl 

: a place of worship especially for sailors

Etymology

from Hebrew bēthʼēl "house of God"

Geographical Definition

Bethel

geographical name

Beth·​el ˈbe-thəl 

be-ˈthel

1

city of ancient Palestine north of Jerusalem

Note: The present-day West Bank town on the site of Bethel is called Bay*tīn \ ˌbā-​ˈtēn \ .

2

town in southeastern New York notable as the site of the Woodstock music festival in 1969 population 4255