black

Everyday

1. Black is the darkest color, the color of the night sky or of coal. tree →
2. Black means with no light: «It was black outside». tree →
3. Black can describe people whose families came from Africa. tree →
4. Black coffee has no milk. tree →

In the lessons

a color that sorts things into groups to count or compare; in art, black mixed with a color makes a darker shade; phrases «black and white», «blackboard», «blackout», «black eye», «in black and white» (written down)

Examples

• There are 12 black cats and 8 white cats. tree →
• She has 5 black pens. tree →
• How many socks are not black? tree →
• The black car costs more. tree →
• Write your name in black ink. tree →
• The old film is in black and white. tree →
• The sky turned black before the storm. tree →
• A zebra has black and white stripes. tree →
• He got a black eye playing football. tree →
• Black clothes get hot in the sun. tree →

Note

Sorts things into groups; groups are added or compared. Trap: the black ones are a part, not the total. Black objects take in more heat from sunlight than white ones.

In Jewish tradition

Black hair in a skin spot is a sign the priest checks to decide whether a person is clean. The prophets and Job also use it for darkness and sorrow: the sun and moon turning black, and black horses in Zechariah's vision.

Interpretation. The priest, not a doctor, judged skin marks, and the rabbis say such marks are linked to wrongdoing like gossip. The darkening of sun and moon is read as a sign of the great day of the LORD.

Examples

• But if the scall stay in its appearance, and black hair be grown up therein; the scall is healed, he is clean; and the priest shall pronounce him clean. (Torah LEV.13.37, JPS 1917) tree →
• Which are black by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow hideth itself; (Writings JOB.6.16, JPS 1917) tree →
• The sun and the moon are become black, and the stars withdraw their shining. (Prophets JOL.4.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; (Prophets ZEC.6.2, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Sorts things into groups; groups are added or compared. Trap: the black ones are a part, not the total. Black objects take in more heat from sunlight than white ones.