knee

Everyday

1. The joint in the middle of your leg where it bends. tree →
2. Your lap when you sit: «Sit on my knee». tree →
3. The part of trousers that covers the knee. tree →
4. Verb: to hit someone with your knee. tree →
5. Knee-deep means deep enough for the water to reach your knees. tree →

In the lessons

In science: the knee is a hinge joint; the kneecap (patella) protects it; muscles and ligaments help it bend. In safety and sport: knee pads for skating and skateboarding; scraped knees from falling — clean and cover them. In manners: kneel down on your knees. Phrases: bend your knees, on your knees, knee pads, kneecap, knee-deep, knee-high, weak at the knees, bring to its knees.

Examples

• I fell and scraped my knee. tree →
• Bend your knees when you land. tree →
• Wear knee pads when you skateboard. tree →
• The toddler sat on Grandpa's knee. tree →
• The water was knee-deep. tree →
• There's a hole in the knee of my jeans. tree →
• Your kneecap protects the front of your knee. tree →
• Kneel on one knee to tie your shoe. tree →
• Little Christina sat on Ib's knee. tree →

Note

Countable: knees. The k is silent: say «nee». «Kneel» (to go down on your knees): past knelt or kneeled. Knees bend only one way, like a hinge.

In Jewish tradition

Being born "upon the knees" means being taken in as one's own child, as with Bilhah's child for Rachel and Joseph's great-grandchildren. In the prophets and writings, weak or trembling knees are a sign of fear and weakness, and Job speaks of the knees that held him as a newborn.

Interpretation. The rabbis read it as a sign of adoption and love, in which a grandparent claims children as part of the family. Isaiah's call to make firm the tottering knees is read as encouragement to the discouraged before the redemption.

Examples

• And Joseph brought them out from between his knees; and he fell down on his face to the earth. (Torah GEN.48.12, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation; the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were born upon Joseph's knees. (Torah GEN.50.23, JPS 1917) tree →
• And she said: 'Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; that she may bear upon my knees, and I also may be builded up through her.' (Torah GEN.30.3, JPS 1917) tree →
• Why did the knees receive me? (Writings JOB.3.12, JPS 1917) tree →
• Strengthen ye the weak hands, and make firm the tottering knees. (Prophets ISA.35.3, JPS 1917) tree →
• All hands shall be slack, and all knees shall drip with water. (Prophets EZK.7.17, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable: knees. The k is silent: say «nee». «Kneel» (to go down on your knees): past knelt or kneeled. Knees bend only one way, like a hinge.