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noun

Methuselah

Methuselah (noun) means a biblical figure said to have lived longer than anyone else recorded in the Bible, used figuratively for someone or something extremely old. Example: “At ninety-eight, my grandfather jokes he's turning into a Methuselah.”

noun
1
A biblical figure said to have lived longer than anyone else recorded in the Bible, used figuratively for someone or something extremely old.
"At ninety-eight, my grandfather jokes he's turning into a Methuselah."
2
A large wine bottle holding about six litres, equal to eight standard bottles.
"The restaurant brought out a Methuselah of champagne for the celebration."

How to use Methuselah

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a way of saying "extremely old", or a giant wine bottle sized for a big celebration.

Word forms

methuselahs plural, methuselae plural

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At ninety-eight, my grandfather jokes he's turning into a _____.

Etymology

From the Hebrew name Məṯûšelaḥ, a figure in the Hebrew Bible reputed to have lived 969 years.

Origin: Hebrew · First attested 969

Class of 969 Methuselah joined the language around 969.
See the full Class of 969 →
old man greybeard graybeard

Related words

Rhymes for Methuselah

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Frequently asked questions

What does “Methuselah” mean?

The word “Methuselah” means a biblical figure said to have lived longer than anyone else recorded in the Bible, used figuratively for someone or something extremely old. In plain terms, either a way of saying "extremely old", or a giant wine bottle sized for a big celebration.

How do you use “Methuselah” in a sentence?

Here is “Methuselah” used in a sentence: “At ninety-eight, my grandfather jokes he's turning into a Methuselah.”

What part of speech is “Methuselah”?

“Methuselah” is a noun.

Where does the word “Methuselah” come from?

The word “Methuselah” dates back to around 969 and comes from Hebrew. From the Hebrew name Məṯûšelaḥ, a figure in the Hebrew Bible reputed to have lived 969 years.

How many meanings does “Methuselah” have?

“Methuselah” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a biblical figure said to have lived longer than anyone else recorded in the Bible, used figuratively for someone or something extremely old.

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