raven
noun (a raven, ravens); adjective (raven — black and shiny)
Everyday
- A very large black bird of the crow family, with a deep croaking call and a thick beak. tree →
- adjective (of hair) Shiny black: raven hair. tree →
In the lessons
In stories and poems ravens are clever, mysterious birds; in Edgar Allan Poe's poem the raven says «Nevermore». In the Bible ravens fed the prophet Elijah, and Noah sent out a raven from the ark. At the Tower of London, legend says the kingdom will fall if the ravens leave. Phrases: «raven-haired», «as black as a raven».
Examples
- A raven croaked from the top of the castle. tree →
- Ravens are among the cleverest birds. tree →
- Legend says six ravens must stay at the Tower of London. tree →
- In the Bible, ravens brought Elijah bread and meat. tree →
- The princess had long raven hair. tree →
- Noah sent out a raven to look for dry land. tree →
- But the raven shook his head. tree →
Note
Countable. Bigger than a crow, with a wedge-shaped tail. Do not confuse with «ravenous» (very hungry) or «ravine» (narrow valley).
In Jewish tradition
In the Psalms God feeds the young ravens when they cry, a sign that He cares for all creatures. The Song of Songs says the beloved's locks are black as a raven. Psalm 22 speaks of a "ravening" lion, which is a different, but similar-sounding, word.
Interpretation. The raven that kept going to and fro is contrasted by tradition with the dove that returned. The Psalm is read as showing that God provides even for unclean birds that nobody cares for.
Examples
- and every raven after its kinds; (Torah DEU.14.14, JPS 1917) tree →
- And he sent forth a raven, and it went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth. (Torah GEN.8.7, JPS 1917) tree →
- They open wide their mouth against me, as a ravening and a roaring lion. (Writings PSA.22.14, JPS 1917) tree →
- He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. (Writings PSA.147.9, JPS 1917) tree →
- His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are curled, and black as a raven. (Writings SNG.5.11, JPS 1917) tree →
Note
Countable. Bigger than a crow, with a wedge-shaped tail. Do not confuse with «ravenous» (very hungry) or «ravine» (narrow valley).
On Mova
- Trees and pragmatics of «raven» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «raven» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
- Trees and pragmatics of «raven» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «raven» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.
This page in Markdown → https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/raven/