sister

Everyday

1. A sister is a girl or woman who has the same parents as you. tree →
2. A half-sister shares one parent with you; a stepsister is the daughter of your stepparent. tree →
3. A sister is also a nun, or a senior nurse in some hospitals. tree →

In the lessons

Maths: a person in the story who gets, gives or compares amounts; sisters counted; ages compared («3 years older») lead to add or subtract. Family words: brother, sibling, twin sister, big sister, little sister.

Examples

• Her sister is 3 years older. tree →
• He gave half his candy to his sister. tree →
• Ann has 2 sisters and 1 brother. tree →
• How many apples does his sister have? tree →
• My little sister is learning to walk. tree →
• The twin sisters wore matching coats. tree →
• Ask your big sister to help you with your homework. tree →
• Sister Mary teaches music at the school. tree →
• There was his sister chasing him. tree →

Note

Countable: a sister, sisters; «sister's» (one), «sisters'» (many). A person; ages compared («older by») lead to add or subtract. Trap: ages of sisters stay apart by the same number of years forever. Trap: «Ann has 2 sisters» — Ann herself is not one of them, so the family has 3 girls.

In Jewish tradition

In the Tanakh a sister is a girl or woman of the same family, and the family lists name sisters such as Zeruiah and Abigail. The prophets also use "sister" as a picture: Judah and Israel are called treacherous sisters. In the Song of Songs a lover calls his bride "my sister."

Interpretation. The tradition reads the prophets' sisters as the two kingdoms, Israel and Judah, who both turned away from God. The Song of Songs is read as a picture of love between God and Israel.

Examples

• and Basemath Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebaioth. (Torah GEN.36.3, JPS 1917) tree →
• And they said: 'Should one deal with our sister as with a harlot?' (Torah GEN.34.31, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the children of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan's sister was Timna. (Torah GEN.36.22, JPS 1917) tree →
• And their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. (Writings 1CH.2.16, JPS 1917) tree →
• And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. (Prophets JER.3.7, JPS 1917) tree →
• And his sister Hammolecheth bore Ish-hod, and Abiezer, and Mahlah. (Writings 1CH.7.18, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable: a sister, sisters; «sister's» (one), «sisters'» (many). A person; ages compared («older by») lead to add or subtract. Trap: ages of sisters stay apart by the same number of years forever. Trap: «Ann has 2 sisters» — Ann herself is not one of them, so the family has 3 girls.