cherub English · revision 1917

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈt͡ʃɛ.ɹəb/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la-lat|cherub]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|grc|χερούβ|tr=kheroúb]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|hbo|כְּרוּב|tr=kərūḇ]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) perhaps related to Akkadian ''karābu'' “to be gracious, to bless”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) It replaced Middle English ''cherubin'', from Old English ''cerubin'',^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU) which was taken from the Greek plural.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old English ''cerubin'' is recorded before 830, in biblical phrases describing the seat of God.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989) The modern form ''cherub'', for one of an order of angels, appears about 1384.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the Bible the cherubim are winged beings attending God.^(Wiktionary)^(RHWU) Christian theology made them the second of the orders of angels,^(AHD)^(RHWU) and in art they came to be shown as winged, rosy-cheeked children.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) From this came the sense of a beautiful or innocent-looking child, recorded from 1705,^(Etymonline) for which the plural is ''cherubs'' rather than ''cherubim''.^(Etymonline)^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 830 – Old English ''cerubin''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * about 1384 – ''cherub'', one of an order of angels.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1705 – a beautiful child.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(plural cherubim)'' A winged heavenly being; in Christian tradition, one of the second order of [[angel|alt=angels]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(plural cherubs)'' A figure of a small angel shown as a chubby, rosy-faced child.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(plural cherubs)'' A person, especially a child, with an innocent or chubby face.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cherubic]]

+ * [[cherubically]]

+ * [[cherublike]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[seraph]]

+ * [[angel]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}